Exploring Ecuador - Day 5(a) - City center of Latacunga

Dear Family and Friends,

This post has to be divided into two parts.  Just too much to share all at once.  

Our hotel in Latacunga was again located in the city center.  After breakfast Sunday morning we headed out for a stroll in the quiet city center.

Chuck standing with the pigeons in a nearby plaza.

We walked a couple of more blocks to the central plaza.  On the way, this building caught my attention...sorry I do not know what it is.  It pays to have a guide sometimes instead of do it yourself.  But doing it yourself is better than not doing it at all.

This is the lovely main square. 

In the center of the square is this marvelous statue in honor of Dr. Vicente Leon.  He was born in Latacunga and ended up being the president of the Superior Court of Justice of Cuzco, in Peru.  He bequeathed his fortune to educate the youth of his home, Latacunga.

One governmental building facing the square.

I love archways.

This building faces the square on the other side.  It is the municipal palace and it made out of pumice stone.  I like the neo-classical design.

On the third side facing the main square is Saint Francis's Church, the first church built in the city.

Since it was Sunday morning, the church was open and we were able to look inside.  There were only two or three people there when we went in.  A very lovely church.

On the way back to our hotel, we saw the church that was bustling with people.

The Church of Saint Augustin.  I love the shoe shine stand located just outside the main entrance.  Don't want to have dirty shoes in church.

I also noticed this large backdrop on the other side of the entrance.  It looked like they were setting up for taking photos.

Then I noticed a lady selling masks.  I looked closely and realized these were special masks for first communion.

I asked if we could go inside.  The lady at the door nodded her head saying yes.

This church had many more people.  Of course most of the people were parents, family and friends of the recipients of their first communion.

Here are some of the children leaving the church.

And one special last picture.  Sometimes you are at the right place at the right moment.  

We needed to get back to our hotel which was named after San Agustin, just like the church.  We had to drive to our next hostel, the Black Sheep Inn, an eco lodge high in the remote part of the Andes.  

The next part of this post will be about traveling there. Lots of good photos and a great adventure. It may not be out in the next couple of days because we are going so remotely that there likely will not be internet.  

Love,

Nancy and Chuck