We had promised ourselves we would return to Manolo's for chocolate y churros. Not only did it bring back wonderful memories of that delicious morning snack from Spain, but the name of the place is the same as two of our favorite waiters from back in the town we loved so much when we stayed in Andalucia for a couple of months in 2005. It just really felt like home. I couldn't stop smiling. Gene couldn't help commenting about where I am the happiest. It was a very good way to start the day. 
After our morning starter, we spent some time walking through the park. It is a beautiful city park, sometimes called simply Parque Central, but more often called Parque Kennedy. In one section there's a bust of JFK in memory of his visit here. Another section of the park is dedicated to a great childrens' playground. There are a hundred or so of the cutest little kids playing and laughing and yelling there every afternoon and evening. Looks like all the parents are making sure the kids work off all their excess energy before bed time.
Every afternoon the artists appear, setting up their canvasses for all to see. Around the
same time, throughout the park, the food vendors are getting ready to offer a great range of tipical street foods. Along all of the pathways right now is an art show of "comic" looks at global warming. 100 or so excellent perspectives. I'd like to have a book of all of these prints. The flowers are beautiful, partyly because there seems to be a good-sized gaggle of gardeners who constantly replace, redesign and rearrange everything. But the best part of the park, of course, is the people. There are always people walking in the park. Couples kissing in the park. Kids playing in the park. It's a hub of activity that never seems to end. There's energy in the air. 
We took a quick peak inside of the beautiful church on one side of the park. Sometimes I think I have become totally jaded looking at churches after so many of them in Europe. But I never can resist looking at the next one, and each time I continue to be amazed at the creativity, along with the history.
After some more aimless wandering around, we stopped by the South American Explorers' Club. They offer a lot of resources for travelers, including guide books, maps, a book exchange, tons of information, a place to meet and get information from other travelers. They also have free wireless and free coffee. It was at the Explorers' Club that we heard about the best cevicheria in town (see separate post), which meant it was time for lunch.
After lunch we continued walking around this wonderful town, realizing how much we really like it here. It's a beautiful city. It's a clean city.
It's a walking city. It's a food city. It's a people city. We like it. We also decided to find a hotel for tomorrow, having decided that our couch surfing situation seems to be not going all that well. Our first choice, Hostel El Patio, is beautiful, but also was full. We ended up making a reservation at Casa Sanchez, a nice older hotel right on the park. 
I have my favorite thing: a little balcony looking out over the park! We did enough walking around while deciding on a hotel to feel like we now know our way around the city fairly well. We also are starting to know the best places to stop for coffees.At the end of the day, it was back to the suburbs to a dark and quiet house again. Our host seemed most upset by the lack of television. We were grateful that we would be in a hotel on the park tomorrow night.
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