The Liberty Train

In these five short weeks we're only tickling the surface of this geographically small country. But because of the mountains and gorges that rise and tumble down forever, especially from the open window of a train, Ecuador feels vast. I can't imagine how workers built this train bed with pick axes and shovels in such a precarious area. I wonder how many stumbled over the edge back then.

Some of the workers who built the railway in 1926.

This bridge is a dizzying height above the river below. I steeled myself to look down and clenched my iPad as Ieaned out because it has no strap. Gads.

A train employee stands on top of the train watching for cows, trees and rocks on the tracks. The train had to stop because of a rock slide yesterday. Thanks goodness the fellow was watching.

We passed though five tunnels.

The construction of new communities like this makes Ecuador feels like it's on steroids. People are hopeful. The other night, a restaurant owner said that the massive highway construction projects are "just the tip of the iceberg" in Ecuador's progress.

This is a brand new train station.

Outside the station, a police officer gave the vendor women their packing orders, I suppose because they didn't have a licence.

We're here in Otavalo until Tuesday morning when we leave for Quito and our flight home next Thursday. Ecuador has grown on us.

More tomorrow. Happy Christmas shopping. Chao.