End of Ecuador

I’m writing this after being in Peru for a week, so I’ve got a lot to cover!

Let’s start with our arrival in Banos and our new friends. We found ourselves in the Arte Mundo Foundation, a great place with offers children somewhere after school to be creative and learn. We also made some great friends in the volunteers, and had our first fancy dress party of the trip. Who can refuse an 80’s night!?  Banos was incredible, set in the shadow of the active volcano which it is famed for, and the rest of the surrounding hills and waterfalls. An activity hotspot, it is great for the adrenaline junkies and ramblers alike! After 5 days it was time to leave and make our way South to Cuenca, or so we though!



Banos from above



80's night!



Our direct bus, was not so direct so we took the chance to stay a night at Ingapirca, the largest Incan site in Ecuador which was originally used by the Canari people long before. It was pretty impressive standing on their ‘Temple of the Sun’ under an actual sun surrounded two rings of rainbows. From here it was onward to Cuenca where we stayed for a few relaxing days, saw the usual sights and looked forward to continuing South.



Ingapirca



 

 

Shrunken head in Cuenca, local delicacy!



Cuenca



Loca Loja! This placed marked our second Graduation Party of the trip, and certainly the most lavish!! We met our friends Mel & Sarah who had started working for the local Canadian language school, and whose boss had just completed her degree! We soon found ourselves in the most expensive hotel in the city for a three course meal, accompanied with free flowing wine and whiskey! This was not what we had in mind when backpacking around South America, but as it was free it would be rude to say no. We also saw our first Ecuadorian league football match, where Loja hosted Quito (who were in the same hotel last night) in a soggy but explosive game of football. Being in the cheap seats, there was no shelter from the 5 hours of constant rain, and our binbags offered little resistance after the first hour or so. Even so, it was a great game with at 10 man Quito winning 2-1!



Looking civilised...

 

From here, we finally left Ecuador, travelling across the boarder and into Peru, taking with us a mountain of memories and good times…