I am starting to pick up local bits of dialect here in Ecuador and more of an appreciation of the people and the country. Every culture takes a little adjustment if you're going to spend any time there.
Hospitality is excellent here, but people also seem to be wrestling with an influx of inconsiderate and entitled expatriates, which must make for some difficulties when dealing with foreigners. A little Spanish and a warm Buenas Dias/tardes/noches and folks open up pleasantly.
The food here can be excellent, if you're a little open minded. Sticking to tourist friendly foods We had a delicious roast pork in one of cuenca's markets today. We went to the 2nd floor of the Mercado 10 del Octubre and were met with scores of small stalls featuring a great variety of local foods for a buck or two. What we were most drawn to were the 8 large roasted pigs out on display, one at each station arranged in a semicircle around cafeteria style seating . A woman stood behind each one with a young girl as assistant, smiling behind the partially dismembered, perfectly roasted pigs.
Usually, I look to see is moving the most product and as Dona Isabelita had already racked up another roasted pig's head, I rightly assumed she was moving a lot more than the others who were still working on their first. She offered us a small sample, warned us that a plate was $3 and we took our seats. Beautifully roasted pork was laid over melty roasted potatoes, a small salad with tomatoes and onions over a bed of hominy and delivered to our table. Probably one of the nicer lunches I've had here. Everyone seemed to be enjoying their food and were a bit curious about the only foreigners in the place.
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