Alausi
The View
Of the many things a backpacker learns to adjust to in adopting the traveling lifestyle, tolerating bus rides is one of the most essential. Traveling by bus is a frequent, necessary, central part of the experience and those who cannot accept this routine are not long for the road. Foreign bus travel has it’s difficulties - blaring music, either sweltering heat or inexplicably frigid air conditioning, unreliable travel times, frequent breakdowns, heart-stoppingly dangerous roads, fear of your precious few possessions being stolen, chatty neighbors, no bathrooms, a constant worry that you’ll miss your stop, far too many passengers - just to name a few of the inconveniences to be dealt with.
And yet, amidst the chaos, there is a saving grace. The view. The detached glimpse into the natural life of a community; humming along unbothered by the inevitable change brought on by tourism. The passing gaze of the places tucked between the ‘highlights’ designed for the mass appeal of a thousand other travelers. The view from the bus might be the most honest look you get at a country. These are the towns and landscapes and mountains deemed unworthy by guidebooks, travelers, and, by extension, you. And there’s undoubtedly an element of regret in passing them by; in only getting so brief a look at places that radiate such a raw kind of beauty.
In the highlands of Ecuador, the land you pass by demands your attention. Your window frame is full of earth: hilly, quilted, dotted by the occasional black and white cow or slow walking Indian in a bright red shawl. And then the bus races around the bend and it’s gone.
I never sleep on the buses here. I order coffees, look out the window, and hope we don’t get where we’re going anytime soon.
All photos above taken during a two hour bus ride from Riobamba to Alausi
Lighting up the Fountion
Colegio Nacional Maldonado in Riobamba
Rolling Hills
On the road in Ecuador
Car Dog
Yes, I realize how dog-focused these posts are getting. I will work on taking more non-dog pictures.
Looking for Trespassers
Man and Wife
An old Indian couple waiting for the rain to clear up
A Weekly Ritual
Sundays here are for two things: church and markets in the town square.
How the Candy Gets Made
A local preparing taffy at one of Banos' many sweet shops. Free samples, or a big block of the stuff for just a dollar.
Houses on the Hill
Taken on a rainy day in Quito
Shrunken Head
The Middle of the World
Well, near the middle of the world. The picture above was taken at a place called la Ciudad Mitad del Mundo, an entire city built around what was thought to be the equator. GPS technology has subsequently revealed the actual equator to be about the 300 yards north of the yellow line in the photo.
A photo at the real equator.
Roof Dog
As his name implies, he spends most of his time on a roof. I first noticed Roof Dog from the balcony of my hostel room and thought he'd somehow become stuck on that roof. I was quite concerned. I sought out locals near the building, excitedly yelling "Perro! Perro!" and pointing skyward. I tried to throw half of an empanada on to the roof from the street. Finding only confused looks and angry accusations of littering, I returned to my balcony to contemplate the fate of Roof Dog and how I might free him from his lofty prison. It was only then I noticed the dog house.
Roof Dog was not trapped, he was home! Nobly watching the courtyard below, safely elevated from the dangerous life of a street dog, content in a place above the fray. While all others look dumbly at the street, it falls to Roof Dog to patrol the rooftops! Oh Roof Dog, may you honorably guard your raised domain for years to come.
A Day at the Market
Che and Chickens
The title of this one is kind of self-explanatory