As with the same tour we took on 5/29/15, it was a fun day. Mike's brother, Steve, his wife Jojo and son, Carter came for a visit so we decided to spend the day and show them some of the sights around Cuenca. We headed off for a day of adventure to San Bartolome, Sigsig, Chordeleg and Gualaceo.

Sigsig - Located about 40 miles southwest of Cuenca. We visited The Asociación de Toquilleras de María Auxiliadora (ATMA), a women’s Fair Trade cooperative that produces artisan crafts, and in particular, panama hats.

San Batolome - In Southern Ecuador, about 20 miles east of Cuenca, lies a small village where guitar-making is a way of life. The master guitar makers are world famous. No one really knows when the guitar-making tradition began, but it dates back at least 200 years, and many families can trace their own family guitar-making traditions to a 100 years back or more. We went on the Ruta de la Guatarres where we visited the workshop of one such craftsman, San Bartolome Guitarras Uyaguari. Guitarras Uyaguari, where Homero Uyaguari has been hand-crafting guitars of all sizes, shapes and designs for more than 40 years. Uyaguari’s father and grandfather before him were also guitar makers.

Chordeleg - Located about 27 miles east of Cuenca, Chordeleg, is known for its silver jewelry. Like many of the rural towns scattered across Ecuador, Chordeleg still adhere to the “guild system” inherited from Spain, where each community specializes in a particular craft.

Gualaceo - Located about 25 miles east of Cuenca, on the outskirts of Gualaceo, we visited Casa de la Makana, owned by José Jiménez and learned about the beautiful art of weaving

5/31/16 - Sigsig, Bartholome, Chordeleg, Gualaceo

5/31/16 - Outside Chordeleg
An interesting stop at the studio of a ceramic master where we were able to see everything from a basic figurine to a clay relief.
5/31/16 - Outside Chordeleg
An interesting stop at the studio of a ceramic master where we were able to see everything from a basic figurine to a clay relief.
5/31/16 - Outside Chordeleg
An interesting stop at the studio of a ceramic master where we were able to see everything from a basic figurine to a clay relief.
5/31/16 - Outside Chordeleg
An interesting stop at the studio of a ceramic master where we were able to see everything from a basic figurine to a clay relief.
5/31/16 - Outside Chordeleg
An interesting stop at the studio of a ceramic master where we were able to see everything from a basic figurine to a clay relief.
5/31/16 - Outside Chordeleg
An interesting stop at the studio of a ceramic master where we were able to see everything from a basic figurine to a clay relief.
5/31/16 - Outside Chordeleg
An interesting stop at the studio of a ceramic master where we were able to see everything from a basic figurine to a clay relief.
5/31/16 - Outside Chordeleg
An interesting stop at the studio of a ceramic master where we were able to see everything from a basic figurine to a clay relief.
5/31/16 - Outside Chordeleg
An interesting stop at the studio of a ceramic master where we were able to see everything from a basic figurine to a clay relief.
5/31/16 - Outside Chordeleg
An interesting stop at the studio of a ceramic master where we were able to see everything from a basic figurine to a clay relief.
5/31/16 - Outside Chordeleg
This is the road right outside the ceramic studio.
5/31/16 - Going through the town of Gualaceo
Just some of the sights as we drove through the town.
5/31/16 - Going through the town of Gualaceo
Just some of the sights as we drove through the town.
5/31/16 - Going through the town of Gualaceo
Just some of the sights as we drove through the town.
5/31/16 - Gualaceo
5/31/16 - Gualaceo
5/31/16 - Gualaceo
I read in the small town of Gualaceo, the art of ikat weaving was officially recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.

Intangible Cultural Heritage is a term used for knowledge, traditions and rituals which permeate the everyday life of a community, are passed down through generations and form an intrinsic part of their identity and culture.

The term “ikat” refers to the dyeing technique used to create the designs on the fabric. It is a resist dyeing process, where bundles of yarn are tightly wrapped together and then dyed as many times as is required to create the desired pattern. This dyeing process is different because the yarns are dyed before being woven into cloth. In most of the other resist-dyeing techniques, like batik for example, it is the final cloth and not the yarn, that’s dyed.

Once the yarns have been suitably dyed and dried, the weaver lines them up on the loom to form the pattern. The design takes form as the yarn is woven into cloth. This is an incredibly complicated process, as the weaver has to precisely dye the threads, and place them correctly so it forms the correct pattern when woven.

Ikat weaving is a skill which is sadly in danger of extinction if steps are not taken to preserve it
5/31/16 - Gualaceo
5/31/16 - Gualaceo
5/31/16 - Gualaceo
To craft ikat, traditional backstrap looms are still used where the weaver sits on the floor. However, for textiles over 75 centimeters wide, a foot pedal loom is often used.
5/31/16 - Gualaceo
To craft ikat, traditional backstrap looms are still used where the weaver sits on the floor. However, for textiles over 75 centimeters wide, a foot pedal loom is often used.
5/31/16 - Gualaceo
To craft ikat, traditional backstrap looms are still used where the weaver sits on the floor. However, for textiles over 75 centimeters wide, a foot pedal loom is often used.
5/31/16 - Gualaceo
To craft ikat, traditional backstrap looms are still used where the weaver sits on the floor. However, for textiles over 75 centimeters wide, a foot pedal loom is often used.
5/31/16 - Gualaceo
5/31/16 - Gualaceo