Hola amigos!

We have spent the past 2 nights in a pretty grotty hostel in Cuenca. This is not, however, a reflection on the city, which is beautiful.

Joe has dutifully been dragged around the various plazas parks and cathedrals of the town, but before you call relate, it should be noted that she also got to do plenty of sitting. The town is another that has been named a UNESCO world heritage site and is full of beautiful colonial buildings and plazas. There is a very pretty river running through it, dividing the old town from the new town. We ventured into the new town where we found a shopping centre with multiplex cinema - and of course, Madeleine could resist, although Pirates was only showing in Spanish.

On the second evening we went up to Mirador de Turi, a church high up on the hill with a spectacular view over the town. On the way back into town our taxi driver mentioned that the local football team were playing that evening. It was Joe´s turn not to resist, so we got changed and headed out to the match. The game itself was pretty poor but we had a great night soaking up the atmosphere and joining in cheering (and commiserating) for the local team.

We are currently in Loja, where we have spent the day looking at more Plazas, Churches and parks (Joe is overjoyed) and we are now waiting for our bus to take us into Peru.

So it´s goodbye Ecuador. We have had mixed feelings about the country. Quito and Lago Agrio we didn´t like so much - crowded, noisy and with little to distinguish them from other cities. We loved the jungle and the rafting and have enjoyed the southern towns of Ecuador, and we have very much enjoyed the food - as our waistlines will testify! Looking forward to Peru now.

Hasta Luego.