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Vilcabamba Glimpse #26

The Equestrian and Hiking Center...under construction

At the heart of the ranch, Hacienda San Joaquin, is our world-class Equestrian and Hiking Center. It features (some built...some under construction) a covered entrance-way for vehicles and pedestrians, two stables (forty stalls), a horse grooming area, an information center (with community bulletin boards and maps of the hiking and horseback riding trails), an organic ranch store, and an outdoor café with wonderful views of the Andes Mountains.

The tile-covered structures at the Equestrian and Hiking Center will wrap around a traditional white three-railed fenced corral. Another corral will be behind the stables. There is also a third, much larger, corral. Two very colorful bougainvillea-draped hillsides (just planted) will frame the horse grooming center.

The extensive hiking and horseback riding trails, which we are now clearing, originate from the Equestrian and Hiking Center.

The attached photos offer a glimpse of where we are in our construction of this Center.

Photo 4937 is an overview. The large structure is stable #1. Stable #2, which should be competed in May, will be in the open area to left of stable #1. To the right of the stable is the organic ranch store and cafe. The narrow structure on the right is the Information Center. Barely visible on the left is part of the tile roof of the horse grooming area.

Photo 5009 shows the approach to the Equestrian and Hiking Center. The mountains in the background, part of the ranch property, show a small area where the hiking and horseback riding trails will travel through.

Photo 5057 shows stable #1. To the right of it is the organic ranch store and outdoor cafe.

Photo 5053 is the Information Center.

Photo 5049 is the horse grooming area. Notice the stonework around the tree in the foreground. These stones will be cleaned, polished and varnished to create quite a beautiful effect. The wall around the tree forms a planter in which colorful flowers will be planted. We have done this in numerous places.

Photo 5040 shows the organic farm store in the foreground. Beyond it is stable #1.

The photos:

Best, Joe

Joe Simonetta
Owner/Architect
Hacienda San Joaquin
Vilcabamba, Ecuador


P.S. International Living named Ecuador "The Best Place in the World to Retire" http://www.haciendasanjoaquin.com/best_in_the_world.html