![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beelikejWell, this is it: I'm -finally- gonna do some oldfashion backpacking the next few days. Fortunately I don't have to carry around all my luggage, because I can leave all the stuff I don't need at Rosa's. She's great.
At 8.00 a.m. I'm leaving her comfortable appartment in Quito and at the busstation I'm getting on the bus to Riobamba.
I arrive there around 1 p.m. and my first mission is to buy a ticket for tomorrow's train, but the office doesn't open until 4 p.m., so I decide my priority is now a hotel. The first place I try is full, but there is a valuable room available in Hotel Estacion, located behind the station (duh). I also have some time to check out the -small- town before I return to the station around three. There I have to stand in line, but I'm patient, because this trip on the train is on the top of my list with 'things to do in Ecuador'. (FYI: Originally the tracks ran from Quito to Guayaquil, but only part of it is still used today. The final part now ends in a loop at 'El Nariz del Diablo' (the Devil's Nose); a big rock that was conquered by some fancy engineering: the tracks zigzag across it. Extra special on this spectacular ride: you can sit on top of the train, not in special seats, but right up on the roof!)
While everyone is waiting for the ticket-office to open, some guys are renting out cushions. I'm told you definitely need something to sit on, so I pay a dollar and get a note with the name of the guy written on it. Tomorrow morning I have to find him and hand him the note to get my cushion:)
At around 4.30 p.m. I get to the window and I hand in my passport for a personalized ticket. On the platform I also buy some gloves (supposedly it gets very cold early in the morning, especially on top of the train) and then I'm ready for the ride tomorrow:-)
The rest of the afternoon and evening I walk through Riobamba. I get some groceries for the trip and I eat pizza (after weeks of Rosa's Ecuadorian zupa I'm in the mood for some recognisable food;)
I go to bed at 8.45 p.m. and set my alarm for 5.00 a.m.
Next day: Train to The Devil's Nose!
Pictures week 3
At 8.00 a.m. I'm leaving her comfortable appartment in Quito and at the busstation I'm getting on the bus to Riobamba.
I arrive there around 1 p.m. and my first mission is to buy a ticket for tomorrow's train, but the office doesn't open until 4 p.m., so I decide my priority is now a hotel. The first place I try is full, but there is a valuable room available in Hotel Estacion, located behind the station (duh). I also have some time to check out the -small- town before I return to the station around three. There I have to stand in line, but I'm patient, because this trip on the train is on the top of my list with 'things to do in Ecuador'. (FYI: Originally the tracks ran from Quito to Guayaquil, but only part of it is still used today. The final part now ends in a loop at 'El Nariz del Diablo' (the Devil's Nose); a big rock that was conquered by some fancy engineering: the tracks zigzag across it. Extra special on this spectacular ride: you can sit on top of the train, not in special seats, but right up on the roof!)
While everyone is waiting for the ticket-office to open, some guys are renting out cushions. I'm told you definitely need something to sit on, so I pay a dollar and get a note with the name of the guy written on it. Tomorrow morning I have to find him and hand him the note to get my cushion:)
At around 4.30 p.m. I get to the window and I hand in my passport for a personalized ticket. On the platform I also buy some gloves (supposedly it gets very cold early in the morning, especially on top of the train) and then I'm ready for the ride tomorrow:-)
The rest of the afternoon and evening I walk through Riobamba. I get some groceries for the trip and I eat pizza (after weeks of Rosa's Ecuadorian zupa I'm in the mood for some recognisable food;)
I go to bed at 8.45 p.m. and set my alarm for 5.00 a.m.
Next day: Train to The Devil's Nose!
Pictures week 3