November 3rd is a national holiday in Ecuador to mark Cuenca’s independence from Spain 195 years ago, so Happy Independence Day Cuenca. This is Monday which is also a national holiday in Ecuador to observe the Day of the Dead. So combined with the weekend we have a four day weekend here.

There are an estimated 100,000 or so visitors here for all of the various activities here. The hotels and hostels are all booked to capacity. Bars and Disco’s have been given permission to extend their closing time from 2 AM to 4 AM.

Of all the events and holidays here in Cuenca during the year this is by far the biggest and the best and a real shot in the arm to our economy here.

I think most people would agree that the main attraction are the artisan booths that line both sides of the rio Tomebamba. For me I like the watching the parades as they go past Parque Calderon.

I shot these at Parque Calderon on Friday at exactly the same place that I took these pics last year.

Here are some pics I took today mostly around and from the top of the Broken Bridge and along the Tomebamba and at  Parque de la Madre.

 

Today was the first day I got to use a portable music devise here so now wherever I go my music goes too. It was pretty awesome to go walking around Cuenca and ride my bike while listening to the Best of the Moody Blues.

Rock on Cuenca, Ecuador

Viva Cuenca!