Hey, forgot to tell you the best part about our hack yesterday - my girth (that´s the strap that holds the saddle on for those non-horsey folk) snapped mid-gallop!!!! The guys tied my saddle back together with abit of old rope and then off we went at full gallop again!!! Much fun!!! thank god it didn´t happen to Andy!

Today we are in Riobamba, an hour or so South of Baños. We have booked in at the Hotel Tren Dorado, right in the middle of town, and as the town suggests, right by the train station. It´s v.posh and yet only costing us a tenner a night! Love it!

We are in Riobamba because of the notorious train ride down the Nariz del Diablo - the devils nose - it´s meant to pretty spectacular and hair-raising as you sit on the roof of the train during the journey! Should be fun!

The journey here was very entertaining. We met a couple of guys who were originally from Ecuador but have lived in New Jersey for the past 16yrs, they were really friendly and we had a good chat. They were also proper pranksters! There was a large lady sat with her shoes off and her feet up next to our new found friends, and they thought it would be highly amusing to nick one of her shoes! They hid it under their chair, and sat giggling for about half an hour while she hobbled up and down the bus with her one high heel, checking under everyones seat and getting the bus guard involved! Haha! She finally found it, but our friends escaped from the bus before she did - thankfully! - she didn´t look to impressed! Mother - let that be a lesson to you!!!!

Going to suss out the train station now and walk off the HUGE pizzas we have just consumed for lunch/dinner! SOOOO FULLLL!

By the way, our German friends have disappeared.... last time we saw them they were going white water rafting..... sure you fancy it Andy?!

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x