Riobamba Bust.

Riobamba was supposed to have the coolest train ride ever. It even has a cool name, Nose of the Devil. Doesn´t that sound like something you want to do? You were even able to ride on the roof. But noooooo, some indigenous people, okay actually it was a lot of indigenous people, decided that they needed to go on strike to protest the nationalization of lands currently held by them, and coincidentally, very high in natural resources. I mean, I´m absolutely behind their struggle for equal rights in Ecuadorian society, but do they have to stop the tourist train? To be honest, I´m not really upset or angry at all, it´s more of a disappointment that we couldn´t do it. Certainly not the first time a strike has held us back from doing something.

So, in response, we´ve decided to leave Ecuador. We´re waiting in Machala, banana capitol of the world, for our 11pm bus to Piura. It´s supposed to only be 7 hours, with the border crossing. But the cool thing about this bus is that it´s supposed to have beds. I´m not exactly sure what that means, but I requested a king size. Don´t know if that translated properly.

We´re heading to Huanchaco, a beach and fishing village where we will be able to unwind for a few days before heading back into the mountains for some rock climbing and trekking around Huaraz. Should be sweet.