I spent 6 hours on the bus to get from Riobamba to Cuenca, a city in Southern Ecuador that is reknowned for its stately colonial architecture. We journeyed through very green parts of the Andes-
But as good as the scenery was at times, 6 hours on the bus, even with its entertainments and refreshments was quite long-
For some reason, clear plastic wrapped potato chips are a big seller on the bus. I should know.
Well, got to Cuenca late in the afternoon and stumbled into the colorful city market-
Where being a bit hungry from the long trip, I found a tasty pork dish for a quite reasonable price-
I then walked around the city and enjoyed its charming, interesting and safe atmosphere-
And I had always dreamed about buying a genuine Panama Hat, which are actually made in Ecuador, rather than Panama. Evidently, they became associated with Panama when they were imported during the construction of the Panama canal to protect workers from the sun, but they have always been made in Ecuador of fibers grown along the coast and then laboriously processed. A super fino hat can cost anywhere from $200-2500 and can hold water without leaking. You never know when you will need to drink from your hat-
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