Tag: Cuenca

Try and Fall

September 29, 2026 by Cassandra Johnson

I walked down the street in Cuenca, Ecuador. I could see that my hostel was not far from the bus stop. I had just arrived from Quito, the capital, and I wanted to save the money, that would be spent on an Uber or taxi. I had paid for so many. A break was nice. Still, carrying one heavy pink duffel bag and pulling along one small wheeled purple suitcase was not feeling quite so convenient and definitely not looking so graceful.

Yet, I did it. Mini goal accomplished. I was relieved, after one (confusing to me) street. I had made it within a few miles of the spot I had booked for several days. The several days would end, and then comes a bit of awkward time, A stretch of awkward moments are laced together, in which I might be deciding to extend my stay or preparing to move on. The end of these first few days in Cuenca readily fit this experience. I wanted to continue to stay in Cuenca but liked the idea of also renting a different hostel or hotel there afterwards. It is awkward checking out anywhere for the simple moments of interacting with the staff, with whom I have low-key or high-key bonded.

The same awkwardness extends to guests I may have toured with, went for a coffee with, gone out dancing with, had drinks or just conversation over complimentary breakfasts, passed time with, in a lobby or a coworking space… The moments and interactions are always potentially there. Welcomed. Yet, they can end ever so oddly.

Of course, in this, there is also a win, a position offering comfort when a new acquaintance or friend has been made and you can easily meet up with them, now just from different starting points, still near to one another. I then, felt a bit more practiced at living long-term in different cities, neighborhoods, and countries, knowing I already knew people.

The difficulty that comes with explaining becomes fluid. Similarly the bond can extend to local residents. awkwardly and otherwise, when you also try to explain to them how you are leaving but not completely leaving. “I’ll still be in the city”.

I wanted to stay and live in different neighborhoods, but I also had to make sure my work was right. I also needed to stay. Should I be budgeting to leave and go to more economical parts of the country? Should I be bracing myself for already-poor follow up from my delayed freelancing project payments? What was also awkward was booking days out based on third parties. That did play well into the possibility that if I did not love the place or area, I could pick up and go. (I must say it was nice, however, to do full-month rentals in Peru).

There was excitement, but choosing and looking also shored up my decision fatigue.

So very awkward when the person, host, acquaintances, or friends you have low-key bonded with or high-key bonded with are vacationing or touring versus you daily living there. The grass was reciprocally greener. I suppose, mostly to have numerous encounters, either helped or hid my might. I wonder. I can be grateful and I love as much as I liked. Still, I wonder how much of me is left in those spaces of bonding and how much I exhale from the need to rest and rest, again and again. I’m sleepy😊Sometimes tired😊

Doing A Thing

January 28, 2025

I am doing a thing, so until I finish or at least I get into the thick of It, I am writing about my recent experiences, but not what I am doing at the very moment. It is a temporary secret.

Cuenca (Ecuador) is absolutely lovely. It is really “tranquilo”, as their Colombian neighbors would say. I have had the benefit of rounding off my trip with a volunteer experience, which speaks directly to my passion. This time it has been a little different, with me volunteering in a hostel, which came right on time and has become an adventure within the adventure: This is different. Previously, I only did grass roots community volunteering abroad and in the US. I have more stories of these times throughout my website.

Normally, I neighborhood and accommodation bop between hostels and hotels (AirBnBs, not so much recently) and I was doing that as well in Cuenca, but as I was trying to figure it all out with my budget, one of the other volunteers suggested I could volunteer at this hostel, so I was happy to use all the skills I have acquired both volunteering and working and employ them in Cuenca, being one of the people who helps others check in, check out and facilitate the services they get while staying in their shared or private rooms.

I also feel a little like I was in a reboot of the sitcoms I enjoyed back in the day because being with the small tightknit group of volunteers that consist of solo and coupled travelers from South America and Europe gave me a chance to feel more at home. Life was now showing me a more panoramic view, from guest (as I started there) to worker and helper, while this also help give me a break. That’s right. The people-pleaser in me even sometimes get caught up in pleasing the establishments I frequent, but now that I was on both sides, this became less a part of me.

Sometimes, I feel into luxury and pampering and consider myself appropriately and other times, I want to make sure I am giving them an easy time (not being a difficult patron). Becoming a volunteer led to me being more relaxed, cooking, using the spaces and taking care of myself while working. The reciprocity may be what delivered me there and perhaps will get me to more normalcy of feeling we are all worth this, including me. My comfort level spiked. My assistance and my comfort came right on time.

Looking Back

December 31, 2024 by Cassandra Johnson

This is also a work in progress like the previous post. (I am still dealing with some questions for myself).

If I am honest, I have not lived in the United States for a while. I have been away since November 2023, except for visits in both April and August 2024. I was still in the US (in San Juan, Puerto Rico) when I started, but a few months later I landed in Merida, Mexico where I stayed throughout Christmas 2023 and New Year’s, into my February birthday. Not until April was I ready to leave Merida, for a short stop in Houston, TX, before getting back to Mexico to see two more recommended cities. Guadalajara (was not the best experience among so many other great ones). Still, my curiosity and aim to have and share nice experiences with others around the world was my focus.

Following Oaxaca, Mexico (which I loved), I revisited Peru (this was about the third time in some cities). I thoroughly enjoyed myself with a lot more income at the time, and mostly living my dream of everyday life as an expat there. I was there for 3 months. I have wanted this since I volunteered there in part of 2010 and 2011. I enjoyed volunteering in Bolivia in 2011 as well, but Peru stole the show.

After Peru, I went to Colombia (Medellin was the first city and where I stayed most of my allotted 90 days – until next time). Bogota was just six days (really nice, still) and Cali and Ipiales were the one-day stopovers I mentioned last time. An added note: When traveling through Colombia, I particularly enjoyed the travel hack of overnight buses as they saved money with one night of lodging not needed, and most hours spent sleeping. I had been aiming for this since I flew between the US, Mexico, Peru and into Colombia.

Okay, well, sleeping on a bus is not the most comfortable feel (facts) but as another precaution, I kept the trips to about 11 hours or less (allowing for added stops). *I remember longer trips from my past and they can get old. I also like the safety of arriving in a place in the daylight, at home or abroad. I was advised to do that my first time in Lima. The only unfortunate circumstance back then was how every decent DC flight landed around 10 pm. Fortunately all went well, and the remote city I later reached was in the accompaniment of another future volunteer/fast friend. We planned to meet in Lima and go from there.

I am now back in Ecuador. I only visited Guayaquil for a few days in 2019, but now I have been able to check out Quito and Cuenca.

Next: I was recently thinking about Paraguay or Uruguay (this would be my first time in each). I am really excited about Brazil but a little worried about suddenly discontinuing to use Spanish and checking out parts of Paraguay and Uruguay would give me the continued opportunity to use Spanish. However, I do think this could mean survival Portuguese and some important phrases will be a fun activity to add to my more fun to-do lists.