On the way to Ingapirca, there is a short stretch of small pork restaurants. When you first see it, it looks somewhat surreal; then you realize what's taking place. The pig is mounted on blocks and a fellow is cooking the skin with a blow torch. As the skin cooks, the drippings fall to the surface below and he is continuously basting the skin with a paint brush as he continues to cook it.
As it cooks, the woman is carving the cascarito, the skin, to be served. She's carving it off the rump first.
After the pig has been completely skinned, the meat is cut into chunks. Water is added for the pork to continue cooking, at this point, the pork is called sancocho.
After the water has cooked out, it begins to fry in its own fat to become frittata, which is absolutely scrumptious.
Little bits of it are also added to corn and fried. This is called tostados. It is also very delicious.
The drive to Ingapirca is spectacular. The scenery is truly beyond words. Along the way, there were interesting sights, which were part of everyday life. Below is a horse that was tied by the road, the saddle is carved of wood.
On Fridays, there is an animal market, in the US, the markets are at usually at auction. Here, it's just a market. These people are returning from the market.
Friday is apparently also laundry day. We passed a number of people doing their laundray in the river.
Carlos and Mick wanted to help with the laundry, but they were discouraged from doing so.
After the laundry is done, it must be hung to dry. Most of the clothes on the line are the elaborate skirts that the women wear.
When we get to town, we see the remains of the animal market.
The young lady below is one of the Canari people. You can tell by her hat that she is unmarried. If the balls are in front she is single. Married women wear the balls on the back of the hat.
If you have ever been to any of the Maya or Aztec ruins of Mexico, or to Machu Pichu in Peru, Ingapirca is very anticlimatic. It is small in comparison to the previous mentioned ruins, but it represents a blend of two cultures, the Inca and the Canari. Below is the Temple of the Sun.
The grounds have a heard of llamas that assist in yard maintenance.
Below is a guanto bush. The bloom has medicinal qualities. It has a tranquilizing effect.
In the foreground are the bases of storage buildings for food. In the back is the Temple of the Moon.
We had lunch at Posada Ingapirca. At one time, it was a hacienda. The restaurant is surrounded by hedges of geraniums. In the Carolinas, geraniums are good for only a season. These were very old plants.
The restaurant was extremely quaint and the food was delicious. Below is the diining room.
In the foreground are the bases of storage buildings for food. In the back is the Temple of the Moon.
We had lunch at Posada Ingapirca. At one time, it was a hacienda. The restaurant is surrounded by hedges of geraniums. In the Carolinas, geraniums are good for only a season. These were very old plants.
The restaurant was extremely quaint and the food was delicious. Below is the diining room.
Much farming is done in the area surrounding Cuenca. This is evident on the drive to Ingapirca. Corn and potatoes are huge crops and part of the daily diet. This farmer plows with oxen. Many of the small farmers can be seen on the hillside cultivating with hoes.
After returning to Cuenca, we met friends at Zoe's for Gringo night. Having never been, we felt that we should go. It was noisy, but one of those things, like Ingapirca, that as a newcomer, should be done once. Dinner followed a Mediterraneo restaurant. It was a good evening.
The trip to Ingapirca is worth the trip, if only for the drive. You catch a glimpse at the daily lives of the local farming community, which includes the breath-taking vistas. It was the perfect day, just one of many to come with our new lives in Ecuador.
Until next time,
Mick and Kathy
No comments:
Post a Comment