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Published: January 19th 2008
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Vilcabamba
View from a hike. So I have gotten dreadfully behind, but I feel the need to have some sort of written account of Ecuador, wish me luck.
After Chachapoyas I basically took one kick ass bus journey so I could get to Ecuador and not waste anytime. This included a bus to Chiclayo, Chiclayo to Puira, and Puira to Loja which took me about a day and a half. In Puira I had to kill about half a day, which was not much fun, but I managed to watch Bailwolf and get ripped off on a shoe shine.
In Loja, which is in Ecuador, I spent all of a day and that was also suffiecient. There was a German girl I met on the bus from Puira to Loja and we hung out for all of four hours. She then decided she had enough of Loja and left to her next stop. This is how entertaining Loja is. But I walked a lot, found the first of many mangos that I devoured in Ecuador, and managed to meet another German girl that was heading to the same place I wanted to see. So the next day I left for Vilcabamba, which is a
The city of long life.
This is how I cross rivers. very nice little town nestled in a valley in the mountains. It is known for people that live very long there, over a hundred years is normal, and for being a chill spot. I spent three days in Vilcabamba, mainly hiking around the mountain outskirts, and eating crepes with my new German friend, plus two other Germans which made for a whole lot more German that I ever really needed to listen to, but it was chill. The hiking was good, I did a bit of exploring, looking for an elusive waterfall, and generally enjoying the warm weather.
From Vilcamaba I headed north to Cuenca which is the third largest city in Ecuador, and is very beautiful for a city. I managed to meet a German guy my age and an Austrian man much older than me. This time was better as they both spoke very good english, so my head got some rest. I managed to go to some museums with all sorts of indigenous art, ruins, things, and some miscellanous, pretty boring. Also went hiking in el Parque de Cajas, which was very scenic, but yet again nothing to crazy. Did do some hitch hiking with my
Vilcabamba
Last creppe breakfast with my German friends. German friend, which I found out is fairly safe in Ecuador, so that was I guess a little adventourous, but not too crazy. Also went to some small towns for a market, bought some hats, ate well, and had good conversation with my new friends. Sorry it´s all kinda of boring.
From Cuenca I jumped to the Quito which is the capital and managed to arrive in time to enjoy the last few days of the festival for the founding of Quito. This was a pretty wild party, with tons of parades, street bands, big party trucks, drinking in the street, and overall the biggest street party I have ever seen. The highlight of Quito was the bull fight I went to. I thought sporting events in the states had a lot going on, but nothing like a bull fight. In the area around the stadium there was bands, cheap beer, hot girls dancing to sell the cheap beer, good food, and an overall party atmosphere. This of course was before noon, and did I mention cheap beer at a sporting event! I´m talking 50 cents for a nice big beer, unbelievable. The fight inself was pretty cool, if
Cuenca
Some ruins in the City. your not the light hearted type, if you are well don´t go to a bull fight. There were six bulls, three bull fighters, tons of ole´s, fancy dress, stabbing of bulls, horses with armor, one flipped horse because of the bull, one matador carried out because of the bull, roses, party, and in the end six dead bulls for the after party. This of course is a very rough description, so if you get the chance, go to a bull fight! I also went to the Mitad del Mundo, or the middle of the world. This was a tourist trap to stand on what is supposed to be the equator. I recommend the place we found afterwards, Quisato, which has a lot of interesting truths and research about the true equator, the ancients ruins located perfectly on the equator, the meaning of the locations of other ruins, and so much more. DO NOT GO TO THE MITAD DEL MUNDO WITHOUT STOPPING BY QUISATO. It´s right aroung the corner of the entrance on the right hand side, you won´t be disapointed. I also did the supertouristy teleferico, which was worth while for the hike I did to the peak behind it.
Cuenca
And of course the bank has its own ruins. A little bouldering does wonders for the spirit. Lastly old town in Quito is awesome, there are heaps of interesting old structures built on ruins of structure that would have been much more interesting. Otherwise Quito is a very metropolitin city for south america, and you can find some interesting restuarantes, clubs and whatever you need for the home sick gringo.
Lastly in Ecuador I went to Otavalo for the market, definantly the perfect place to souvinir shop and very scenic as well. Also hit a hot springs with some locals I met on the bus from Otavalo, stayed in the dive town of Ibarra, and kept things real.
This is Ecuador in a nut shell for me.
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