La chola cuenceña

Traditionally, women in Cuenca wear colourful, sweeping skirts below a panama sombrero. Said hat quite possible wins the prize for Most Misleading Name in the World. A strictly Ecuadorian creation, the hat was worn by the builders-- often from this country-- who carved out the Panama Canal. Regardless, women in pink, purple, blue, yellow skirts dawdle on the ancient streets of this city, selling jewellery or chasing their kids.

Cuencana in the market place.