The train ended up in Alausi because of some problems with the tracks (we missed the last 1/2 - 1 hr of the ride). Still... it was a great 5 hour ride! The massive saint at the top of the hill overlooking the town certainly got our attention. It is the biggest one I have seen so far here!
Four hours later by bus, we finally arrived to beautiful and colonial Cuenca!
In fact, Cuenca has the largest and most impressive collection of colonial buildings that I have seen in Ecuador.
With churches...
...more churches...
...and even more churches (Cuenca's Famous New Cathedral).
The New Cathedral has beautiful white and blue domes.
More colonial architecture.
As Cuenca is also known to be the cultural center of Ecuador, you can spot some international influence in the architecture of some of the buildings here. For example, this building certainly has an asian twist in its diagonal roof style.
Many of Ecuador's parks have fake horses set-up with photographers and fantastic cowboy/mariachi hats. We couldn't resist taking this picture!
By the churches, older ladies sell candles, rosaries and other religious items.
Yup, this is what you think it is... a huge pile of ice cream (and candied apples) for sale. And no you don't put ketchup but sugar or syrup on top.
Coconut goodies are also popular and tasty (but these snacks are more prevalent on the coast). I have to admit though that my favourite treat was the maracuya (passion fruit) gelato ice cream that we decided to buy from a regular store. :cD
On one building's door we found carvings of Pre-Colonial designs.
We visited modern art museums in Cuenca and found this "fallen angel" masterpiece...
...and some modern political art as well.
After a busy day... we had to check out the town's nightlife, which was pretty quiet compared to Quito. But we did find this bar, called Pop Art, with picture of cartoons all over the wall. My kind of place!
Next to the bar's entrance though was this big blacklight-lit picture of a vicious dog. Not so good, for Ecuador has one of the highest rates of rabies in the world! Still, by taking this picture without a flash, I felt I had to prove my elementary school teachers wrong that you CAN take pictures of blacklight-lit scenes and it won't ruin your film.
Here is the same dog mural picture, taken with my flash... equally scary.
Back in Quito!... to broken-glass ridden gates (this is security level one). What a contrast the broken glass makes below the beautiful flowers!
Security level two includes further spiky elements. Security level three includes paying a security guard to watch over the area all night, every night.
