Day 323: 2011年6月12日

Parque Extremo
32,872km

---1週間分の日記をアップしました。ご覧ください!! (ネットにアクセスできなかったもので）---

昨日はちょっと信じられない夜になりましたが、今日はもっと信じられない一日となりました。運命って本当に不思議なものです。

昨晩は暗くてよく見えませんでしたが、窓の外には絶景が！　そして中東の宮殿を模した建物が。外に出て散歩。山が谷があり、素晴らしい風景。そして宮殿。こんなところに自分が招かれているとは。ちょっとそこら辺を歩いただけでも30分です。






昨日の夕飯の残りを電子レンジで暖めて食べてしばらく歓談したたら、「朝飯が用意できた」と。しまった!　母屋に行ってセビッチェとモルシーヤを。それから動物園に。







ライオンにこんだけ近づいたことなんてこれまで無いですしこれからも無いでしょう、ってくらい近づきました。
オシロット（ティグリヨ）、プーマとか素晴らしい猫科の動物。尾長ざる、ケイマン・ワニ、熊、ダチョウ、色とりどりの鳥たち。ワシは一体何処にいるのでしょう??

一旦部屋に戻り、ホルへ・ファンのお父さんホルへとお母さんルベッカに挨拶。とても気さくで素晴らしい人たちです。






そして今度は教会へ。アラブ式の概観に十字架。内部は本格的な教会。塔があり最上階まで登ると、絶景かな。なんでアラブ式の外観かというと、お父さんの一族は昔レバノンから来たからなんだそうです。






下に降りたらホルへ・ファンが待っていて、「母屋を案内するよ」と。母屋にはホルへ・ファンのお父さんが収集した美術品などが飾ってあり、素晴らしいの一言。テラスにプール。そして絶景が目の前に広がります。いやー、素晴らしい。テラスで珈琲タイム。こんな経験もしてみるものです。

しかもお父さんとお母さんにランチに招かれました。クエンカ郷土料理のコースを。ワインやシャンペンも最上級。本当に気さくな方々です。「いつでも戻ってきなさい」と。いやー、ファン、セザール、ホルへ・ファンとご家族と知り合えて、本当に旅をしてて良かった。

もしアダムのパニア・フレームが壊れなければ。もしワシがこけてパニアが凹まなかったらセザールに出会わなかったでしょう。もしあの晩見晴台のTuriに行こうとセザールが言わなければホルへ・ファンに出会わなかったでしょう。ちょっとした巡り会わせで普段知り合うこと無いであろう人たちに会えました。







それからパルケ・エキストリーモに戻り人口池の畔で野営です。フェリペ運転のラリーカーでコースを一周する予定でしたがウベが一周して帰って来たらボンネットがいきなり開いて窓ガラスにガンと!!　残念ながらアダムとワシはラリーできませんでした。ホルへ・ファンは明日朝早くから仕事とのことでクエンカに戻りました。本当にありがとうホルへ・ファン。クエンカで再会しよう!!

日は暮れてアダム、ウベとワシの3人だけ。仲間と最高の景色に囲まれての野営。プライスレス。



Day 323: 12 JUN 2011

Parque Extremo
32,872km

Last evening was incredible but today was even more unbelievable day.

Last night it was dark to see surrounding, but when I woke up, I could see an amazing scenery through a window.

There were mountains I could see from the distance and a palace in Middle Eastern style in front of me.

I got up from the bed and walked around. The hill where the palace located was surrounded by mountains and a valley. Very very beautiful place.

I could not really believe I was invited here. Just walking around took me 30mins.

Adam and Uwe were up too. I nuked the left over from last night and ate it. I was chatting with them and we were told that "Breakfast is served." Ouch, I was full already.

But I could not say "no" to Ceviche and Molcilla. I was so stuffed.

After breakfast, we walked to the "Zoo". As Jorge Juan said last night, there were 10 lions!

I had never been so close to lions before. 2 lions were just 1 year old but they were already very big girls.

There were many Ocilotos, Pumas - very beautiful cats, Bears, Cayman, Monkeys, birds (even Ostrich) etc, etc.

Back to the room once and we met Jorge Juan's dad Jorge and mum Rebecca. They were very very friendly and wonderful people.

Then we went to see the church. It looked like Arabic outlook with crosses. Inside was very proper church. I went up to the top of the tower, and there was an amazing view I cold see.

The reason why the palace and the church were built in Middle Eastern style, Eljuri family came from Lebanon long time ago.

When I came out from the church, Jorge Juan was waiting down there. He said he was gonna take us a tour inside the palace.

There were quite a few arts corrected by Jorge senior displayed in the house. I particularly liked the bronze works.

There was a swimming pool at a terrace. Both side of the swimming pool, there were terraces with a magnificent view. We were served coffee there. Fantastic.

The experience was very unusual for me, not in my reality, but it was good to experience the difference.

We were invited for lunch with Jorge senior and Rebecca. The typical cousin of Cuenca was served. It was excellent.

Wines and liquors severed were top quality as well. We talked about our trips, and Jorge senior talked about his passion on arts and auction.

They told us "You are welcome to be back any time." How wonderful they were.

If Adam's pannier frame was not broken, if my pannier was not dent, Juan did not take us to Cesar. If Cesar did not suggested us to go to Turi that night, we did not meet Jorge Juan.

Just by chance we were invited to Parque Extremo and the Eljuri's. That's why the trip is very very interesting. We don't know what will happen next.

We went back to Parque Extremo and at the lakeside, we pitched our tents. Jorge Juan suggested us to get into his Rally Car driven by Felipe and go around the course.

Uwe took the first round. But unfortunately, the bonnet came loose somehow and smashed into the front screen! No major damage but it was unsafe to go next round. So Adam and I missed out the opportunity...

Jorge Juan had to get back to Cuenca. We saw him off and went back to our camp site. The wind was strong, but camping under the stars, just 3 of us in Parque Extremo, it was priceless.

[3回]