8:55 AM Departed O'Hare Airport for a very pleasant flight to Panama City on Copa Airlines. Arrived @ 1:40PM. 40 minutes early. There was a last minute change that caused us to go get our bags (After having left them in Customs), escape back into Customs, bring them through and back up to the Avianca counter. A bit harrowing, but Avianca made up for it by handing us off to various agents and having an agent drive us to the plane!
In the end it was great to get to Cuenca 2 hours earlier than originally expected.
Irene was awesome throughout. I need to be more like her.
So, the owner of the hotel picks us up at the airport. Great guy from Munich. He and a friend decided to invest in Cuenca and built this little boutique jewel with a fine Brasserie. Had a filet Bernaise that was sensational...$14. We both had as good a mushroom soup as we have ever consumed....$4. The room is spotless with a fine new King bed. Found out this place is 4 months old! Going to bed watching the US destroy Serbia....it's 930PM.