Exploring the world, intentionally or not…
Posted in Ecuador on Sep 12th, 2006
RIOBAMBA, ECUADOR – In the early 1900’s a railway line, the Ferrocarril Transandino, was constructed from Guayaquil on the Ecuadorian coast to Quito in the mountains. The line made it to just below the town of Alausà when builders encountered an almost vertical wall of rock known as the Nariz del Diablo (the Devil’s Nose). [...]
Posted in Ecuador on Sep 11th, 2006
RIOBAMBA, ECUADOR – I arrived in Riobamba to find ash on the ground from the recent eruption of nearby Volcán Tungurahua. Every time a gust of wind comes along it kicks up clouds of ash, which subsequently become grit between your teeth, turns your eyes red, and generally makes things unpleasant. Many storefronts have heavy [...]
Posted in Ecuador on Sep 4th, 2006
Having completed my Spanish course in Quito I’m preparing for the next phase of my trip – whatever that might be. Eager to practice my Spanish skills, as well as to escape the noise and pollution of Quito, I joined some language school friends and headed for the cloud forest town of Mindo, about two [...]
Posted in Ecuador on Sep 1st, 2006
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS EVERY GUIDEBOOK WARNS YOU ABOUT IN QUITO IS THE ALTITUDE. At 2850m (9350 ft) it is the second highest capital city in the world, and I expected to feel a little breathless here. To my pleasant surprise I have never noticed the thin air. Given the altitude, you might expect [...]