April 4, Cuenca, Ecuador

Up in the sierra of Ecuador at about 7500 feet in the cities, and quite a bit higher getting between cities by rail and bus. The weather is generally cool and cloudy, mid 50s - mid 60s, but there is occasional sunshine. A lot like Seattle. A lot different from the coast. The Andes are quite spectacular, with deep valleys and steep mountainsides that are cultivated in corn, wheat, and vegetables and grazed by livestock until you get to the treeline. There are snow covered volcanoes, rushing rivers, and indigenous people who wear vibrantly colored wool ponchos and shawls and fedora hats. The colors and styles vary according to community, it seems. The cities seem well built and prosperous. In Riobamba we were fortunate to arrive on the eve of the municipal independence celebration and saw four very colorful parades and numerous street festivals.