Alausi 30 September

We just travelled four hours in the bus from Cuenca to Alausi. An interesting trip as we had smoke pouring from under the bus and made several unscheduled stops to check under the bus. It was with some relief that we arrived safely in Alausi. The trip had been through high mountains and the road at times zig zagging up and down with reasonable drop offs. The Sierra is yet another contrasting area of Ecuador and quite magnificent with cloud shrouded peaks. The land is a patchwork of cultivation on what seems impossible slopes reaching high up the mountains.

Alausi is quaint and small with cobbled streets and a laid back cowboy attitude. The railway line passes through the centre of the town. Tomorrow we catch the Devils Nose train trip and will return to Riobamba. This will be a suitably interesting birthday excursion with a difference.

We had a couple of unscheduled days in Cuenca when I managed to pick up a delibeli problem and so ended up laying low in a hostel. Fortunately Hazel was able to do a day excursion to the nearby mountains which she reports are just like Nelson Lakes. Later that day we visited nearby Baños for a very therapeutic (no spell check in evidence) swim in the hot pools.