Sunday, May 31, 2015

Tour: 4 City Bus Tour of San Bartolome, Sigsig, Chordeleg, and Gualaceo *Picture Heavy Post*

Tour Date:  May 29, 2015
Tour Departure Time:  9:00am
Tour Return Time:  5:00pm
Tour Host:  Donna McNicol
Tour Guide:  Emilio Morocho 
Locations Visited (in Ecuador):  San Bartolome, Sigsig, Chordeleg, and Gualaceo
Cost Per Person:  $24US plus Lunch and Shopping

We learned about this bus tour on an Ecuador Expats post that Donna posted.  There were 4 seats remaining on the bus.  I instantly private messaged her and told her we really wanted all four spots for Dan, Mama, Myself, and Robbin upstairs from our apartment.  He is visiting Cuenca for a few weeks.

Our Tour Bus

Since this was our first bus tour we really were not sure what type of bus we would be taking the tour in and we were pleasantly surprised to find a nice, big, and comfortable bus.

Heather and Mama
On Our Way Out of Cuenca, Ecuador
Our Tour Guide Emilio Morocho

We left Cuenca at about 9:00am, our first stop on the tour was the town of San Bartolome.

Roadwork after a landslide

Driving to San Bartolome
Guitar Making Lesson and Shopping
Guitar Making
Guitar Making
Guitar Design
Guitar Lesson
Newspaper Articles Related to this Shop and Making
San Bartolome Sign and Our Bus
More Guitar Designs
Finished Guitars
Window to the Shop
View from the Guitar Shop
Local Little Doll
Photo Credit:  http://ecuador-bound.blogspot.com/
Another Little Local Doll
Photo Credit:  http://ecuador-bound.blogspot.com/ 
Handmade Items for Sale
Photo Credit:  http://ecuador-bound.blogspot.com/ 
Hand Weaving Baskets and Such
Photo Credit:  http://ecuador-bound.blogspot.com/ 
View from the Guitar Shop
Photo Credit:  http://ecuador-bound.blogspot.com/ 
Hand Weaving Items for the Table
Photo Credit:  http://ecuador-bound.blogspot.com/ 
Cuties Eating a Snack
Photo Credit:  http://ecuador-bound.blogspot.com/ 
More Handmade Crafting
Photo Credit:  http://ecuador-bound.blogspot.com/ 
More Handmade Crafting
Photo Credit:  http://ecuador-bound.blogspot.com/ 
Another View from the Shop
Photo Credit:  http://ecuador-bound.blogspot.com/ 
 Once everyone was done shopping we all boarded the bus to head to our next stop on the tour.

Welcome to Sigsig
The Original Panama Hat Factory in Sigsig
Panama Hat Front Room Art Work #1
Panama Hat Front Room Art Work #2
Panama Hat Front Room Art Work #3
Panama Hat Front Room Art Work #4
Panama Hat Front Room Art Work #5
Panama Hat Front Room Art Work #6
Panama Hat Front Room Art Work #7
History Lesson:

First popularized by President Theadore Roosevelt and worn by countless travelers ever since, the Panama hat has become a symbol of coastal and tropical locales.  Nothing screams I’m on vacation somewhere warm! quite like the straw hat, which is known for being breathable and able to return to its original shape after being folded in a suitcase.  But what is not as well known is that Panama hats don’t actually come from their namesake country.  The hats actually originated in Ecuador, but were mistakenly called Panama hats because they were shipped through the Isthmus of Panama before making it to locations across the rest of the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Panama hats are still made throughout Ecuador, where Ecuadorians call the hats sombreros de paja toquilla (or “hats of toquilla straw”).  Anyone selling the hats at markets or in shopping malls, however, is well aware that tourists often ask for them by the name “Panama Hat.”  Several towns are famous for the production of the hats, including the small town of Sigsig in the Andes Mountains near the colonial city of Cuenca.  The Panama Hat Company is owned and operated by indigenous Ecuadorians who work directly with wholesalers.  Here at this factory you will see women with amazingly nimble fingers as they weave the hats.  Remarkably, each and every hat takes a single weaver several days to make. While there, you can get a good deal on a hat of your own or purchase other items made out of straw.  There is also a nice photo op in front of a giant Panama Hat in the courtyard of the warehouse.

History data is from:  http://gadling.com/2012/03/20/tour-a-panama-hat-factory-in-sigsig-ecuador/

"Correa's" Panama Hat
Dropped off Hat's from the Local Women
Ecuador Map
Dyed Toquilla Straw
Dyes Toquilla Straw
Toquilla Straw Being Dyed
 












Heather Checking Out Panama Hats
Mama Checking Out Panama Hats

Bird Wallhanging
The Road that Leads to Chordeleg
With hats in hand it was time to again board the bus and head to Chordeleg for lunch and some more shopping.  Chordeleg is a Famous location for purchasing and making filigree jewelry.

Chordeleg
Dan Being a Complete Gentleman During the Entire Trip
Chordeleg City Centre
Chordeleg City Centre Park
Location of Our Tours Lunch
Popcorn and Salsa
Potato Soup
Oatmeal Drink
Lunch
Dining Area Artwork
View from Chordeleg's Main Shopping Area
View from Chordeleg's Main Shopping Area
Some Sad Looking Corn
Filigree Earring Light Post Decoration
Shop Window

After lunch and shopping in Chordeleg we headed to Gualaceo to learn how they weave shawls, scarves, and blankets. 






























This was our last shop on the tour.  We were planning to go to an orchid farm however, it was being sprayed and it wasn't safe for us to visit.  In addition, we were planning to stop at a hand crafted leather making area and according to the guide we ran out of time.  Now, when we arrived back in Cuenca it was only 4:12pm.  Not really sure why it was skipped and the reason we were given honestly made no sense.  

Here are our shopping purchases:

Mama's New Wrap for $45US
Handmade Trash Can and Cup
Handmade Display
Can, Cup, and Display $15US (we opted not to barter)
Panama Hat Box
Panama Hat Box
Mama's New Panama Hat $20US
Heather's New Panama Hat $20US
I Love My New Hat...It was the exact one I was looking for!
My Hubby surprised me today with Diamonds & Sapphires times 2 pairs. What a sweetheart! I Love You, Babe!
Mama's Silver Diamond and Emerald Earrings
My Hubby surprised me today with Diamonds & Sapphires times 2 pairs. What a sweetheart! I Love You, Babe!
All in all it was a fun shopping trip.  We're looking forward to our next group expat bus tour.

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