Letters from a Wandering Soul

 05:00–07:00 | Awakening in the Andes’ Dawn Air I awoke to an oddly cool sensation filling the room—an unexpected crispness that tingled at the tip of my nose. When I opened the window, the third-floor view from Hotel El Refugio de Salinas unveiled a breathtaking sight: the Andes mountains draped in heavy mist, as if the fog had sat itself down gently across the peaks like a hushed visitor. The village below remained fast asleep, and in the distance, the faint sound of a donkey’s bell echoed softly, rising with the morning sun behind the mountains, slowly awakening the world. On the terrace table, I placed both a peppermint and a chamomile tea bag into the kettle and poured hot water over them. Then, I added a generous swirl of honey. A soft sweetness filled the air—somewhere between floral nectar and golden syrup. I sipped slowly, blowing gently, letting the warmth roll through me. Without realizing it, my eyes drifted tow...

🌄 05:00–07:00 | From Hotel Victoria in Cuenca to the Terminal — Early Morning Departure (Part 1) At 5 a.m., the air outside the window was cool and crisp, carrying a hint of mint. The darkness of night still lingered, and everything was utterly quiet, as if the city itself had just stirred from slumber. I quickly packed my light travel bag and asked the front desk clerk, Maldalco, to call a taxi from El Ángel. 🌄 05:00–07:00 | Taxi Ride Through the Sleeping City (Part 2) About ten minutes later, a gray taxi pulled up in front of the hotel. The city hadn’t fully awakened yet, and the soft glow of the streetlights brushed past the cobblestone streets like blades of light. Through the windshield, the vast and serene silence of the Andes slowly unfolded — it felt as though the quiet majesty of the mountains made this moment even more special. 🌄 05:00–07:00 | Arrival at Terminal Terrestre de Cuenca (Part 3) We glided through the d...

 Part 1 – A Gentle Morning in Faded Brick 🕯 A Quiet Time Hidden in Weathered Brick – The Start of a Day in Cuenca 🌄 05:00–07:00 | Moonlight on the Window Frame and the Breath of the Andes In the faint light of dawn, where darkness still lingers, the air was as fresh as mint—crisp, cool, and silent. A new day quietly unfolded at Hotel Victoria. As I opened the European-style arched window, the mountain air of Cuenca brushed against my nose. Before me, the grandeur of the city revealed itself in silence. Moonlight, not yet faded, gently spilled across the wooden floor, and in the stillness, the soft, distant murmur of the Tomebamba River reached me. It felt as if someone had painted the sound of the river with a minty breeze— so vivid and clear that I was pulled in, caught in a moment where sound and scent became one. It was then I truly felt: this was Cuenca. 🌅 Part 2 – Moonlit Water and the Breath of Stillness The moonlight wrapped so...