Aug 15 - Sep 3, 2016: Ecuador

Aug 30, 2016.  Hostal Yakumama, Cuenca, Ecuador.

• Taxi to bus station, then bus to Alausi, to learn that the fabled "Nariz del Diablo" train ride was booked for the day.  Hugely popular, very touristic, I moved on without regrets (well - some) by taxi/bus/taxi to Ingapirca (means "Inca wall"), Ecuador's most preserved archeological site.  Built during the Inca expansion into Ecuador towards the end of the 15th century, on a site that had been occupied by the Cañari people for over 500 years.  The Incas replaced most of the Cañari structures with a complex that probably functioned as a place of worship, a fortress, and a "tambo", or way station, on the Inca Royal Road connecting Cusco to Quito.  Lots of photos of the Temple of the Sun, and the grassy fields at its base, with very tame llamas grazing.  

• Then a great bus ride back to El Tambo sitting next to Joe the bus driver, who had spent time working in New York as gardener, driveway blacktop laborer, taxicab driver, etc., and really wanted to practice his English.  Final bus & taxi to this Hostal, where I am checked into a typical nothing much room for $17.  

• Ate dinner at a Colombian restaurant, but it sure tasted like Ecuadorian food (not that I minded).  Lots of upscale restaurants, bars, dolled-up couples strolling about.  Very cosmopolitan compared to everything I've seen since Quito.  Not sure I'll stay here long though...