We decided to stop off at Cuenca to save doing a mammoth bus journey. We found a hostel which was like something out of horror movie, a big old hotel with the worst beds ever! And they played loud local music all day which echoed through the hallways, strange place. We walked round the centre and it turned out to be a nice change from the busy Quito city. Sat in the plaza square and relaxed, south America is full of plaza squares, nice and relaxing places where you can meet lots of people. England should have more I say!

Next day we took a 3 hr bus to an Incan ruin, the most northern inca site. I think it was around 4000 metres up so you could feel the altitude slightly, a little out of breath from a casual walk! Took a few snaps and went for a small ramble as a tester for the Inca Trail in Peru, no problems! We bought an "original" Incan stone from a local, it looks original anyway! Hoping it would bring luck for the big trek in Peru...

We returned back to Cuenca and jumped on a bus to cross the border to Peru, heading for Piura in the north.