Scenery, Part 1

We saw beautiful scenery of our Ecuador from the train.

Volcanos, interesting rock formations, a variety of crops and flowers, small farms and towns.

 

 

 

 

 Flowering quinoa.  Who would have thought it was so lovely?  The camera doesn't do the colors justice, they were brilliant reds, golds, purples.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the train passed through the towns and countryside, folks would stop and wave!

 

 

 

 

For better viewing, you can stand outside of the last train car. 












Part 2 is next.

Shuar Community in the Andes

 

We visited a Shuar Community on one of the side trips from the train.

The original family relocated to the Andes several years ago from the jungle, looking for peace.
Now, the Community is about 80 members.

We were treated to several Shuar traditions.

The Chief greeted us in peace.

A medicine woman cleansed us with special herbs.

Dancers performed.

A tasty snack of chicken (easier to get than fish here) and yucca (we think).

A display of their lovely crafts was for sale and we bought a few.

 

 

 

 

Interesting plant life.  The red one below was full of bees.

 

All very enjoyable.

Market Day in the Andes

 

This market is one of the last authentic people's markets in the Ecudorian Andes, definitely not a tourist spot.  It's located in the town of Guamote. 

Our train stopped here and we all got out to experience the market.

Coming into town...

 

 

 

 

 

We loved all the colors and activity.  Not much Spanish spoken here, but we managed to find some goodies to bargain for.  Here's Carol and George with the vendor after a successful purchase.  No, the pig below is NOT the purchase!

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

Folks tethered their animals to the railroad tracks.  That seemed ok, our train was on another track.

 

 

Rural women in Ecuador have a hard life.

 

 

 

Food for sale.

This woman is cooking plantains stuffed with cheese.  Of course, the pigs...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we walked back to the train, a music group was there to entertain us.