| Oct 9, 2005 - The road to Cuenca, Ecuador
| I am now in my new temporary home of Cuenca, and what a way to get here! On Sunday I woke up at 6am in the cabin, and took a short bus back into Otavalo. From there it was a 2-hour bus back to Quito. I had to quickly settle my tab at the jhostel, and eat a small sandwich while I had the chance. Then back to the bus terminal in Quito, with both bags and all my belongings in tow, and onto a 10-hour bus ride to Cuenca! A lot of this ride was still during daylight hours, and I got to enjoy the rolling hills, bulging mountains, and snow-capped volcanoes as they passed by my window. This stretch of the mountains was dubbed "Volcano Alley" by the early explorers as 9 out of Ecuador's 10 volcanoes are between the these two cities. For those who I expressed my concern to before leaving, I already used my new iPod on this trip, about the time when it got dark and they turned off the radio to put on a blaring Spanish movie, and I am so glad I have it.
I arrived at Cuenca's bus station around 10pm, called the number that I was given for my host family, and was greeted by an endless ring. After a couple tries I called the representative from my school, CEDEI, and told her the problem. Luckily she was able to sort it out, and while I was waiting for my chicken sandwich in the bus terminal, my host brother Juan showed up and brought me "home" in his red 2-door Chevrolet. I met my family, chatted for a bit, actually UNPACKED my stuff (which will be a rarity on this trip) and promptly crashed onto my bed. |
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