Leaving Lima at 1:00 the truck arrived at the next beach, Paracas by late afternoon. Paracas means sand storm. The earthquake at Pisco in September rattled Panacas. The greatest damage was caused by the swelling of the sea. The force of the water crashed into the windows of the restaurants at the beach. Reconstruction is still happening. Driving thru the small towns around Pisco piles of rubble by the side of the road for many kilometres can be seen. Trucks carry loads of rubble to flat areas outside the town. Many families are living in tents while adobe bricks are being made to build new houses. Since arriving in Peru the shape of the houses have remained the same: square, brown like the sand, one storied, straw or aluminium roof. Invariably they sit in the midst ... read more

Once Paul and I had spent a perfect day in Cuenca we made our way by public bus to Punta Sal. It is a seaside resort reached thru a marvellous gate. Only saw the beach behind the hotel. Arrived late in the afternoon and left early in the morning. The main purpose was to meet the truck and continue on the journey. After taking a PuttPutt to the pleasant beach we found that most people had put up their tents. I booked a room. My tent was so smelly and mouldy from having been put away wet and being in the truck for the last four weeks that had to wash it in the shower. It dried overnight. Paul and I shared the room. The bed was fine. The shower was hot and the price ... read more

Riobamba is the town where the train ride to the mountain called El Nariz Del Diablo begins. The tickets cost $11 in October 2007. They should be bought the day before. The time of sale may vary from that stated in the book. Go early. I was second in line and the man before me was buying 30 tickets because he worked for a travel agent. People who tried to buy tickets at 7:00 AM the next morning were turned away. Arriving at 6:15 a barrage of people, selling coffee, buns, scarves, gloves, hats, bananas, water, cookies, chips and anything else that could be carried in a basket, met the approximatly 150 people who were about to begin the perilous ride to and down the mountain called Nariz del Diablo( Devil’s Nose). Four old passenger cars, ... read more

Tena is a way station south east of Quito on the western fringe of Amazonia. Having arrived we are in a most noisy hostel .The place is so close to the road that I have to blow the street dust out off my keyboard since working in the restaurant for two hours. The room is in the basement with no out side window, just a screen open to the stairwell. Karen put Chad and I in this space. She and the rest of the group have gone to the jungle. We will meet them on the 8th in Banos. Chad is spending three days learning to kayak. I am visiting the Parque Amazonico. And have made a new friend, taken the bus to Serena, working on my blogs, walking to the cemetery … only thing open ... read more

We headed for the bus terminal and the trip to Otavalo, after staying for three sleeps in Cali … I know not why. The succession of vehicles to Otavalo makes for an interesting array of travel methods, always orchestrated by our illustrious leader. It took some planning getting busses and taxis and minivans for twelve people. There was always someone ready to take bags and pack them into a conveyance. Four taxis from the hostel to the bus terminal. Public bus to a small town just before the border. Here the monumental task of fitting all the luggage and all the people into one minivan began. The pictures do not lie. We were packed in like sardines. And on the way the hatch flew open and Paul’s backpack landed in the street. After much shouting ... read more