Bought this rug in Guano...Safe and Short Trip to Riobamba

Dear Family and Friends,

Lately we have been feeling the effects of the Covid lock down.  Until recently, each province in Ecuador was locked down.  People were not allowed to leave their province and go to another without special permission.  

Chuck read online about a private tour that was offered to Riobamba area during this time of Covid.  The tour was very private indeed.  The tour guide and driver were one in the same.  Our tour guide picked us up at our condo, drove us to Riobamba, toured us to two amazing places and returned us to our home in Cuenca.  

Riobamba is about a 5 hour drive, so having transportation included was a big plus for us. 

Here are a couple of pictures I took out the window of the van as we headed north.  I still pinch myself when I experience the beauty of Ecuador.  I feel so fortunate to be able to call this beautiful country my home.

I took this picture as we were driving through Canar.

We stopped for a bite of lunch in Alausi (home to the devil's nose train).  We did not go into town, we just stopped at a restaurant on the highway.

We felt very safe as we entered.  We were greeted at the entrance with a temperature check and hand spray by a masked employee.

Everyone kept social distancing and we ordered at the counter and it was delivered to our table.  I think our typical Ecuadorian meals were about $3.50 each including our drink.  

Meet Dimitri, our wonderful tour guide.  I will share more about him later in other posts.

We continued our drive to Riobamba.  Before heading to our hotel, we asked Dimitri to take us to Guano to do rug shopping.  Guano is about a 20 minute drive from Riobamba.  It is famous for hand knotted rugs.  Of course Dimitri hooked us up with the most famous rug making family in Ecuador.  

I was expecting a big factory, but we were taken to the family home, where out back they dye all the wool used and then hand make their rugs.

Below are Chuck and Dimitri in the large working room.  Nothing fancy at all, just a large area with multiple looms.

The family matriarch was making a rug as we were touring.  

They dye all their own wool in big vats.

A close up photo of the family mother working.  Notice the kitten sitting in her lap.  

After seeing where the family makes the rugs, Dimitri took us to where the rugs are displayed and sold.  

All of these rugs are unique and handmade.  

I told you that this family are very famous rug makers.  Here is a plaque of a letter of thank you to the father of this family.  He made a rug that was presented to Richard Nixon by Ecuador in the 1970s.  The rug is being used in the White House today.  

Also, this family has two rugs on display in the United Nations building in New York.

We bought a rug.  They are not cheap, but we wanted something nice for our condo.  Here is a picture I made after we returned to Cuenca.  We have the rug displayed in our office.  

Here is a link to their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Home-Decor/Alfombras-Allauca-Pancho-279328928773128/

After selecting and purchasing our rug, Dimitri delivered us to our hotel, Rincon Aleman.

Here is Chuck at the gate.  It is not a traditional hotel, but a private home with a nice B&B addition in the back.

Here is a picture of the backyard B&B.  I am not sure how many rooms they have but they also have a reception and breakfast room. 

Here is Chuck in our room.  It was rainy and cold so we really appreciated the European style comforters.

Our hostess also provided us with two flannel covered hot water bottles filled with hot water just before we bedded down.

A very good beginning to our Covid get away.

On Tuesday we went to Sangay National Park. I will share all about that on the next post.

Love,

Nancy & Chuck