ZED67

  The road from Cuenca to Quito is very scenic, passing several volcanos, among them Ecuador`s highest, Chimborazo. Unfortunately the peak was hidden in the clouds, only a little of the snow showing. It would have been nice to stop along the way, there are many wonderful locations, but it was the beginning of the rainy season and my time and money was also running out so I had to speed up travel a bit. Quito is a very beautiful city, with many hills and mountains, a charming historic centre and its entertainment hub, Calle La Ronda, lively markets and green parks. I liked the La Mariscal area less, which is more modern and western - more characterless. 

Cuenca is a very beautiful city with a large historic centre. The buildings are more grandiose than in other towns of the Andes I've seen, and they have a more European look. Probably they are not as old as other Andean towns in Peru and Bolivia, where buildings tend to be one or two storeys. Furthermore Cuenca is very Western, with trendy shops and cafés and no beggars or street vendors in the centre, which gives it even more of a European feel. Normally I don't like to take tourist sightseeing buses, but to get to the viewpoint on the outskirts, it is cheaper than a taxi and you get to see other parts of the city.