Sucre - La Recoleta and Cafe Mirador

 

If you´re planning a trip to Sucre, it´s worth the hike (or $1 taxi ride) to get up to La Recoleta, which is nearer to the top of La Colina de Amor.

Here, you´ll find a Franciscan monastary founded in 1601.

Outside the monastary there´s a large plaza with a fountain and lots of love graffiti. You can also buy handmade textiles here, though the prices aren´t as good as they are out in el campo.

 

Ryan and I took a tour of the monastary (10 bs/person), which was interesting but a bit rushed. Highlights include an ancient tree, an intense painting of the 1597 crucifixion of twenty-six Franciscans in Japan, and a large chapel.

But you don´t have to tour the monastary to enjoy La Recoleta. Cafe Mirador is our new favorite place.  You can get cafe con leche here for 5 bs and a really delicious tomato soup. But to be honest, it´s all about the view of the city.

At Cafe Mirador, you´ll also find butterflies, hummingbirds, and some interesting vegetation (cacti included).

 

While you wait for your food (which may take a bit), you can also walk around a reed pond where the owners have set up some traditional homes free for the touring and of course a llama carving.