The bus to Cuenca took hours longer than expected. We got dried salted bananas as a snack. Ive got diahorea again probably because of the change in water from Peru. The bus journey was not enjoyable but I survived with a few well timed stops from the driver. The hostel was like the Ritz in comparison to the night before but there didn´t seem to be anyone else staying there so I went off for the day on my own. I just walked around the town taking photos of all the pretty colonial buildings and then I visited a museum detailing the history of local hand crafts from the region. I went to a flower market and then for dinner in a busy restaurant by myself. I spent the time reading my guidebooks to plan my next move. Even though there are ruins nearby to Cuenca, I decided to press on further north today and so got another bus to Alausi.
Again it took hours longer than expected. There had been a landslide along the way and big trucks cleaning up the debris blocked the road for hours. I was starving today but I was too scared to eat anything at the places we stopped on the bus. They didn´t have chips just manky soups containing chicken feet and whole eggs. I found an ok hotel in Alausi but there doesn´t seem to be anyone else staying there apart from an Asian girl who doesn´t speak any English. She has some Spanish but her accent is too strong so I gave up hanging out with her. There are no other gringos to be seen. Its been kind of lonely with noone to speak to for the last 3 days but I guess its just another South America experience. I should be pleased to at least be off the gringo trail for a few days. I spent the afternoon climbing a nearby hill, at the top of which is a massive statue of San Pedro. They are mad for their statues over here. I managed to find a place that served chips for dinner but now my stomach is grumbling again. Fingers crossed it wont be at me all night. After dinner I came to do emails but the whole town had a powercut. Ive finished my latest read and desperately need to meet a gringo if only to swap books or Im going to go out of my mind. Its very boring sitting in a dark room with noone to talk to so I went out on the street and made friends with some locals. Noone has heard of Ireland. Most know Spain, they just dont know where it is. Im still a bit creeped out by all the men since meeting that taxi driver, so didn´t stay long when they started asking me if I had a boyfriend. The reason I came to this wee town is because I want to get a train tomorrow along a very famous stretch of the track called the Devils nose which is supposed to be incredibly scenic but everyone I asks gives me conflicting info. Some say I need to go to the station at 8am, others say 9am, 11am and 2pm. Others say the train is not running tomorrow. Who knows. This is typical South America so I just have to laugh and get up early tomorrow. I dont wont to be stuck here an extra day.
Again it took hours longer than expected. There had been a landslide along the way and big trucks cleaning up the debris blocked the road for hours. I was starving today but I was too scared to eat anything at the places we stopped on the bus. They didn´t have chips just manky soups containing chicken feet and whole eggs. I found an ok hotel in Alausi but there doesn´t seem to be anyone else staying there apart from an Asian girl who doesn´t speak any English. She has some Spanish but her accent is too strong so I gave up hanging out with her. There are no other gringos to be seen. Its been kind of lonely with noone to speak to for the last 3 days but I guess its just another South America experience. I should be pleased to at least be off the gringo trail for a few days. I spent the afternoon climbing a nearby hill, at the top of which is a massive statue of San Pedro. They are mad for their statues over here. I managed to find a place that served chips for dinner but now my stomach is grumbling again. Fingers crossed it wont be at me all night. After dinner I came to do emails but the whole town had a powercut. Ive finished my latest read and desperately need to meet a gringo if only to swap books or Im going to go out of my mind. Its very boring sitting in a dark room with noone to talk to so I went out on the street and made friends with some locals. Noone has heard of Ireland. Most know Spain, they just dont know where it is. Im still a bit creeped out by all the men since meeting that taxi driver, so didn´t stay long when they started asking me if I had a boyfriend. The reason I came to this wee town is because I want to get a train tomorrow along a very famous stretch of the track called the Devils nose which is supposed to be incredibly scenic but everyone I asks gives me conflicting info. Some say I need to go to the station at 8am, others say 9am, 11am and 2pm. Others say the train is not running tomorrow. Who knows. This is typical South America so I just have to laugh and get up early tomorrow. I dont wont to be stuck here an extra day.
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