I rolled out of bed excited for whatever the plan-less day would bring. At the lobby restaurant I treated myself to another breakfast of champions, similar to what I had the day before. These breakfasts were certainly more indulgent than what I would usually get during my main trip. There’s never enough time in the morning to enjoy a proper meal to get the day going before jetting off on another adventure. Today, five fluffy, maple syrup-drenched pancakes, two buttery croissants, a bowl of Frosted Flakes with cold milk, and a glass of freshly pressed blackberry juice was enjoyed without the rush of anticipation. It felt like the kind of meal that straddles the line between comfort and excess — the perfect fuel for a day of wandering.
By mid-morning, I headed out to stretch my legs with a stroll through Cuenca’s old town. I had only caught glimpses on my walk around the city yesterday. Walking down the streets, I gazed at the historic buildings that gave the city a sort of timeless feel. Stopping at a viewpoint along the road as I headed out to lunch, I peered across the historic center catching an equal mix of greenery and urbanization. There was something about it that just put the mind at ease, an almost mesmerizing feeling.
I made may way over to a nearby mall and stopped by the food court for my first truly American meal of the trip – KFC! Crispy chicken was a welcome sight and a good change of pace from everything else I had been eating for the past couple weeks. I scarfed down one chicken breast after another before realizing I had forgotten to get a drink. On the other side of the food court I spotted Tutto Freddo, a local Ecuadorian ice cream chain (and recommended to me by our tour guide back in Banos earlier in the trip). I ended up getting a classic vanilla milkshake to wash down what I would find out later to be too much chicken…
By the time I got back to my hotel, the food coma hit hard. I crashed for a couple hours, which was both a much-needed break and an unavoidable consequence of that carb-heavy breakfast and fried chicken combo. Waking up a little groggy from a mid-day siesta, I strolled back onto the streets, this time with a mission — to pick up a few last-minute pharmacy goods. Interestingly, there seems to be a pharmacy on every corner, making the errand surprisingly easy. The rest of the evening slipped by quietly — scrolling the internet, messaging friends, and sending my cousin a quick happy birthday wish. Dinner was a simple chocolate croissant from the hotel’s bakery — light, flaky, and sweet!
The night ended on a more somber note. I packed my bag early for tomorrow’s afternoon departure — a small, practical ritual that always makes the next day feel less stressful. As I laid down to fall sleep, my mind drifted between the excitement of continued travel and the exhaustion of an already long vacation. While these slow days in Cuenca were a welcome break between two action packed trips fraught with non-stop exhilaration, I would need to find a way to breathe new life into the next couple days before beginning my trip in Costa Rica. With so much on my mind, I am glad I chose Cuenca for my transition, I couldn’t have picked a better place to lay low!
No Regrets: The Only Way To Live 