| In the mid 1990s, Gary and I were exploring all through | | | | Style”. |
| Ecuador with a group of friends. There were 12 of us, | | | | Just as darkness set in, we were greeted by part of |
| all enjoying the adventures and the surprises of | | | | the family who were just visiting their ancestral home. |
| Ecuador. | | | | (At that time, San Agustin was not a hosteria or open |
| We had finished a delightful afternoon stop at what | | | | to the public.) |
| became one of our favorites (then just a small dairy | | | | They opened the chapel and explained to us its Inca |
| with a serving room), La Vaca. Even writing about this | | | | history as well as pointed out the original walls of the |
| now, my mouth waters at the thought of high mountain | | | | Inca palace, upon which San Agustin was built. |
| chill and a hot pot of the best hot chocolate in the | | | | We asked if we would be welcome to meditate in the |
| world…milk made fresh from the restaurant’s own | | | | chapel…and the young man in charge said |
| dairy and chocolate, the strong kind from not too far | | | | “Welcome and Yes”. |
| away Ambato. | | | | We sort of filed into the dark ancient chapel (nothing |
| But this hot chocolate was even more than that…all | | | | like any Spanish chapel I’ve ever seen since) and |
| of us splurged and had the “supreme” which | | | | helpers appeared with candles. It was deep quiet there, |
| was fresh cheese stirred into that already unbelievable | | | | deep and dark. We did a 20 minute meditation and |
| concoction! | | | | some of us felt sadness and heaviness. |
| It was delicious, strong and indeed supreme…but as | | | | But then the door to the hacienda was opened and |
| are many things in Ecuador certainly not decadent or | | | | we entered the most upbeat, charming, bright and |
| the least bit sinful! | | | | series of delightful room after rooms. The mixtures |
| While we were there all getting warmed up and | | | | were astounding (later I recognized this as Ecuadorian |
| marveling how we could walk right through the dairy | | | | style)…bathrooms with soft swirls of color and |
| with the afternoon milking of the spotless black and | | | | exquisite candelabras and bedrooms filled with |
| white cows and have our milk, chocolate in the midst | | | | wooden angels and unexpected delights! Roaring |
| of this. | | | | fireplaces in all rooms AND the bathrooms, golden |
| “Quite unheard of cleanliness,” we all gasped. | | | | washed walls and roses, roses, roses everywhere! |
| But the thought arose, not really sure now where it | | | | Years later we returned and met the daughter who |
| started, from the owner of La Vaca or our old friend, | | | | converted the hacienda into luxury suites. It is a |
| the National Guide of Ecuador…how about a late | | | | beautiful venue welcoming guests and also weddings |
| afternoon meditation in a REAL Incan Chapel? | | | | into this 17th century venue. |
| Here is the chapel. | | | | Then as now, it offers authentic delicious Andean |
| Ecuador-hacienda-chapel | | | | cooking. And today guests can enjoy mountain biking, |
| “Of course” was the chorus! We jumped out | | | | horseback rides with picnics as well as hiking and |
| passed back through the languor of those fat beautiful | | | | simply soaking up the exquisite Ecuadorian experience. |
| cows and started north on the Pan American | | | | Little did we know that just driving around and |
| Highway back toward Quito and Cotopaxi, the second | | | | exploring the Avenue of the Volcanoes that we’d |
| highest peak in Ecuador and listed as one of the | | | | be 15 years later writing about our experiences to all |
| world’s highest active volcanoes at 19,347 feet. | | | | of you. Ecuador and its Haciendas are all about |
| At more or less Marker 77, we turned off the highway | | | | that…adventure, history, exploration, archeology and |
| not far from Cotopaxi National Park. We wound | | | | darn good food and fun! |
| around for a few miles not seeing much and then we | | | | San Agustin de Callo, a great truly historic place to |
| were in for another hacienda surprise! | | | | overnight on your way to the Devil’s Nose Train |
| The beautiful, historic Hacienda San Agustin de Callo | | | | Ride. 90 miles south of Quito on the Pan American |
| welcomed us not in the same way as nearby La | | | | Highway. : “In total San Agustin now has six suites |
| Cieniega but in its own symmetrical charm of a colonial | | | | of which four have adjoining drawing rooms, two |
| hacienda. Here we could see and experience its | | | | suites with incorporated drawing rooms and five |
| “unique architectural blend….Inca (Imperial style | | | | double rooms. Eleven rooms in all with capacity to |
| from the 15th century and Spanish Colonial from the | | | | room thirty four people full house. The two smallest |
| 18th century and then Republican from the 19th | | | | rooms Montufar and Bonpland, are located in Callo |
| century. San Agustin de Callo constitutes the only lived | | | | Lodge. Nevertheless these are double rooms. All other |
| in museum of Inca Imperial and Spanish Colonial | | | | rooms are spacious. |