Cuenca House
August 25, 2008 · Print This Article
First of all, thanks to everyone who has sent e-mails and/or made comments on our various blog postings. Regardless of our response rate (e-mail access is not nearly as convenient for us in Cuenca as it was at the hostal in Quito), we do enjoy hearing from all of you. The kids especially enjoy hearing from their friends. Eliot asks “can we check H.E.R.B” every time we have internet access.
Here is the house in Cuenca where we settled last Sunday, the 17th, and where we plan to spend about 2 1/2 weeks. The white door on the lower right is the entrance to the house, and the door to the left is our very own neighborhood bakery! Above, the balcony is part of the front bedroom (one of four bedrooms in the house) and this is where Eliot sleeps ( in his own double bed!).
This may be our longest stay in one place on this trip. After our short stay in Quito, it felt good to unpack and have a place to call home. (Just how did those Johnson’s survive two years with no more than 3 or 4 nights in one place?) Perhaps we’ll get a bit more used to the transitory life as the trip goes on.
The house is owned by JM’s mother Julia. Cuenca, a city in the Andes in the southern part of Ecuador, recently celebrated it’s 450th anniversary. Its history goes back further if you consider its Inca and Cañari past. JM’s mother now lives at her house in Gualaceo (in the country not far from Cuenca) caring for her sister, who’s health is not great. (More later about our visit with them this past Sunday the 24th)
JM and his many friends and family have really made our stay in Ecuador enjoyable and easy so far, especially Andres in Quito, Wilson y Lourdes in Cuenca, and JM in Miami. We feel very special and well cared for, thanks!!!!
The house itself is more than 100 years old and the kids find it fascinating. There are three stories, lots of stairs, and many balconies within. We each even have our own bedroom, which is really spoiling us at this point. Funny, but the kids’ favorite thing has to be the multiple doors, keys and locks involved with entering/leaving the house each time. Being the operator of the various locks and keys hasn’t worn off quite yet.
The location of the house is fantastic, right in the middle of the old, colonial downtown section of Cuenca and only 2 blocks from our Spanish language school. It also is a short bus or taxi ride to Parque Paraiso (Paradise Park), where there are many rock formations to climb, playground apparatuses (that would never pass inspection in the US) and soccer fields. The kids joined in on a local family’s soccer game the other day and had a great time. We learned some new words like “Cubre Jack”, or “Cover Jack!”
All in all, Cuenca and the house are charming and a wonderful spot to start our time in Ecuador and on our trip in earnest. Thanks again!
Hi all,
Your entry today made our day. What a beautiful house, how wonderful to be meeting JM’s family, and what fun to play soccer with an Ecuadorian family. I am the same as Eliot; I look for your entries on the internet frequently. Your Spanish classes sound great. Love, GG & PopPop
What a nice experience! Awesome pictures too…I love how close you are to a school where you take Spanish classes…Cool!
Hey JJAKE!
We are all enjoying your posts! What great adventures you’ve had already! We still miss you; but, we feel very connected through your stories (great writing Jack, Ainsley, and Eliot!) and pictures. Good luck with your Spanish lessons and keep working on those soccer skills!
The Krzywy5
Buenos dias, amores. Que linda la casa de la familia JM! ¿Les gustan el nombre nuevo de nosotros-MIKES? Gracias, Robin, por la idea. Bueno, el fin de espanol. Buena suerte con sus estudios.
Beijos,
Min
The doll in Elliots room (my room for a few months too) was actually there even before I lived in Cuenca in 1998. Good call on moving it….Hope you enjoy the town, its really beautfiul at night I think.
Hey J.J.A.K.E.–
Wow!! Loved Jack’s play-by-play of the soccer experience! How excellent! How excellent to be settled in such a beautiful house. Loved the photos of Kelli & John “in action”. School has started for Ben & Eric! More soon. Thanks for all the emails Jack & Eliot!
love, H.E.R.B.
Eliot–where will you be jumping rope next? love, HERB
John. Don’t forget to call or write before Saturday night with regards to the camera. I can always run to Best Buy on Sunday morning. My friends leave Miami to Guayaquil at about 4 pm.
Jm
hey all!
I love being able to follow your journey from Durham. the house in Cuenca looks wonderful. I love the skylit entry and open space. enjoy your time settled into one place for a while, and keep on jumping!
-emily
I just wanted to say Hi to Ainsley… and everyone else!
HI!!
P.S. I think the house your in looks really nice..
John, you must eat fritada and hornado. Ask someone to direct you to one of the local mercados, it would be another experience for you. There is one market near the house, it is called 3 de Noviembre.
Jm
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