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Day 17 – Work, Tai Chi and Turtles
To be honest, the past two days weren’t super explosive with lots of activities. It was mostly a lot of the same routine, but with a few highlights here and there. The main one being our last evening spending time with our fellow Turtles before the Turtle Travel Club Leap in Cuenca ended.
But we’ll get to that in a moment. First, let’s talk about Thursday …
Getting stuff done
After waking up we spent most of the day at home working on our respective projects. Most of the day was spent on the computer at the dining table. Ruhi did head out and drop off our laundry at the lavandería and picked up some empanadas on the way back.
But for me, there wasn’t anything very exciting to film or photograph so let’s just jump ahead to when we jumped in the taxi and made our way to Tai Chi.
Tai Chi
Ruhi went to Sinfonía to take care of some work while I participated in the Tai Chi class at Parque de la Madre. It was a good practice and my legs are, very very slowly, improving. I can almost put a normal amount of weight on my right knee. And my right ankle is not quite as swollen or stiff as it used to be.
On this day I used my cane instead my crutches to get around. Its nice to have a free hand for a change. I have a telescoping cane that I picked up in Tulsa last year and Patricio was super impressed with it.
Lā Miàn(拉面)
After class Ruhi and I walked down the street to a restaurant we visited several times back in 2023 but hadn’t yet gone to this trip. In fact, we heard that they had new owners but after a class of Chinese martial arts, I was in the mood for some Chinese food, so I thought it might be worth checking out.
Plus, it is always a great change to practice our Mandarin Chinese. Ruhi had the bō cài miàn (菠菜面 = spinach noodles) and I had some Chicken lā miàn (pulled noodles), which also had some broccoli in it. On top of that we had some gān biān dòu jiǎo (乾煸豆角 = dry fried green beans) and cōng yóu bǐng (蔥油餅 = scallion pancakes).
The noodles were great, but the green beans were SUPER salty and we weren’t able to finish it. Ruhi and I agreed that the spinach noodles were probably the star of the meal and if we were going back we’d both get that.
After dinner we grabbed a cab and the noodles did Ruhi in because she was out like a light by 8:30 PM. I stayed up a few more hours to do some work but eventually got to sleep as well.
Day 18 – Happy Hour with the Turtles
Friday was sort of bitter sweet because it was the last full day of the Turtle Travel Club (TTC) leap in Cuenca. (If you don’t remember what the Turtle Travel Club is, click here to learn more.)
A bit about the TTC
In a nutshell, the TTC is an online and offline group of slow travelers (mostly over 40 years old) who are looking for international experiences where they can form meaningful connections with others.
And what is “slow travel”?
Well, in another nutshell, it is a mindful approach to travel that prioritizes deeper connections and experiences over a packed itinerary. It involves spending an extended period in one location to live like a local, rather than rushing through multiple destinations.
This style of travel focuses on quality over quantity, emphasizing cultural immersion, supporting local businesses, and reducing travel stress.
You know those packed travel tours where you spend 7 days exploring 9 countries from a bus and by the end you’re so exhausted and your legs are so sore that you need another week in a spa to recover?
Yeah, well, slow travel is the opposite of that.
And in the Turtle Travel Club, the hosts/organizers, Amelia and JP, have arranged “Leaps”, where a small group of Turtles go on an extended trip. And this one happened to be in Cuenca, Ecuador.
One of the best parts of a Leap is that there is no packed itinerary. There are one or two group activities you can participate in each week, such as our excursion to the artisan villages, or the group lunch at La Maria restaurant. But there is an abundance of time between those to do whatever you like.
A lot of Turtles will meet up for dinner in the evening. Or head out to a spa. Or take a day trip. Or just meet up near the river and chat. But it is the flexibility and ability to do whatever we want that makes the Leap experience less energy depleting (like a normal “tour”) and more energy rejuvenating.
They are having more Leaps in the coming months. Most of them are already sold out, but its worth signing up for the newsletter to be on the lookout. Next month they’re having one in Panama. And then over the winter they have three in S.E. Asia in places like Bali, Kuala Lumpur and Siam Reap.
Working at home
Friday was also spent mostly at home getting some work done. However we did have some errands to run to prepare for the last “Happy Hour” gathering with the Turtles. So in the mid-afternoon Ruhi and I grabbed a taxi to head to our favorite bakery.
Running errands
Yes, that’s right. We went to Panasia again and bought more cream puffs. I mean, can you blame us? They’re the perfect thing to bring to a gathering of friends. We picked up 15 more, which brings our weekly total of cream puff purchases to around 80!
We also ran an errand to the pharmacy to pick up a few things. And I also forgot to mention that we picked up a few vegan brownies at Fratelli’s earlier on for the plant-based eaters in the group.
After we had our cappuccino and flat white drinks, along with a mochi and a piece of Earl Grey Cake (which was fantastic), we got back in a taxi and met up with the Turtles at a little outdoor bar area next to the river.
Happy Hour
The Happy Hour was at a place called Bumba with a great view of the river and nice outdoor seating. The weather was pleasant and the conversations were lively and engaging.
We had a great time hanging out with everyone but it was a little bittersweet since we all knew it was the last night of the Leap and almost everyone was heading home the next day.
Fortunately our cream puffs went over pretty well, and along with the fried yuca and chips and guac, it was a really nice time.
So nice, in fact, that we didn’t want it to end and everyone decided to walk up to Centro Historico to eat at an Indian restaurant together. I managed to make it up the hill on my crutches with no issues and pretty soon we were all sitting in two groups on the 2nd and 3rd floor of the Punjabi Rasoi restaurant. (Google Map link)
The poor man who was in the kitchen cooking all the food probably didn’t know what hit him. But he powered through and was able to make food for 17 people all by himself. And it was pretty delicious even if a few plates took some time to get to us.
It was a wonderful time and we’ve definitely made some long-term friends that we’ll definitely visit and see again in the future. To any Turtles who happen to be reading this blog, thanks for being such great people and we can’t wait to see you all again!
After dinner Ruhi and I caught a cab back to the apartment where we rested for a bit and got a good night’s rest.
And, as always, here is another song to wrap things up:
Today’s Song: Farewell Turtles
Lyrics:
Farewell Turtles (farewell turtles)
Goodbye Leap (goodbye leap)
Until the next time (the next time)
That we meet.
Oh, Farewell Turtles (farewell turtles)
Goodbye Leap (goodbye leap)
Yes, Until the next time (the next time)
That we meet. (Oh, we’ll meet again!)
The last two days, of this Leap
The time went faster than we knew
Slow traveling doesn’t creep
Slow became fast and days flew
Relaxing days. Tai Chi in the park
Latin flavors everywhere we go.
A perfect trip for Ruhi and Mark
in Apartamentos Otorongo.
Chorus
Farewell Turtles. Goodbye Leap.
Until the next time we meet.
Adios Tortugas. Buen viaje.
Viajen lento, con menos equipaje.
Farewell Turtles. Goodbye Leap.
Until the next time we meet.
Adios Tortugas. Buen viaje.
Viajen lento, con menos equipaje.
The last night. A Happy hour.
Cream puffs. Drinks. River flowing.
Smiles and laughs with blooming flowers.
Turtles together. Friendships growing.
Raise your hands if you want dinner.
Indian food. A favorite treat.
The company was a winner
But just a little bitter sweet
Traveling slow. across the seas
Traveling slow. feel the breeze
Leaping across with fun in store
Leaping across to Ecuador
Oh, we’re on a leap to Ecuador!
Chorus x1
Farewell Turtles (Farewell Turtles)
Goodbye Leap (goodbye leap)
Farewell Turtles (Farewell Turtles)
Goodbye Leap. Oh, goodbye leap!
Farewell Turtles. Goodbye Leap.
Until the next time we meet.
Adios Tortugas. buen viaje.
Viajen lento, con menos equipaje.
Oh, you gotta travel slow.
Traveling so slow …