Cuenca & the Southern Highlands - Adventure Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - page 233

they're a little pricey. For more of a local scene, try Santu , at Larga
and Mariano Cueva. The Wunderbar , near Río Tomebamba (half-
way down the steps at the end of Hermano Miguel), is a lively estab-
lishment. It has several rooms indoors, as well as seating outdoors by
the garden when the weather is warm. It attracts a younger crowd
and serves up live music on occasion. The staff was super-friendly,
and it's the only place in Cuenca, if not all of Ecuador, where you can
get a Grolsch Amber Ale. Highly recommended.

For a great night of salsa dancing, or just checking out the scene, go to
La Mesa , on Grán Colombia between Machuca and Ordoñez. This is
a small club, but has a great atmosphere and reasonably priced cock-
tails. It runs late into the night.

For a change of pace there are also a fewmovie theaters inCuenca, in-
cluding one at the Casa de la Cultura and another across the way,
with regularly scheduled afternoon and evening shows. The Teatro
Cuenca , at Padre Aguirre 10-50, is another option.

If you are interested in local artesanías , you can do no better than in
and around Cuenca - renowned for its jewelry since pre-Inca times -
unless you knock on the doors of the experts themselves. Other qual-
ity local crafts include weaving, basketry, Panama hats and
woodcarvings, to name a few. The Centro Cultural Jorge
Moscoso , at Córdova andHermanoMiguel, 7-821-114, offers qual-

ity artesanía , museum displays and working exhibitions. El
Barranco , at Hermano Miguel 3-23 and Av. 3 de Noviembre, offers a
co-operative with a wide variety of handicrafts. For Panama hats and
other goods, check along Grán Colombia and Benigno Malo. For jew-
elry and other handicrafts, try Arte Artesanías , at Borrero and
Córdova, or Joyeria Turismo , Grán Colombia 9-31.

If you need groceries, there is a Supermaxi in Cuenca at Grán Co-
lombia and Avenida de las Americas.