Arrived in Cuenca via Alausi and the famous Devils nose train ride.  

First of all I´ll chat about Alusi and the train ride....

The day we arrived in Alausi was St Peters day! the towns festival day that is held just once a year. This was amazing luck! as the whole town had turned out for their once a year street festival. The people in this town aren´t so used to having tourists and were the nicest people we have met so far on this trip. Everyone, was welcoming offerring us drinks and thanking us for visiting their town, I think there were only 10 tourists in the whole place!  The atmosphere was brilliant with big "utes" driving down the main street carrying speakers that blarred out music whilst group after group of dancers and performers of all ages followed them.

From here we took the famous Devils nose train ride, I have never had to fight so hard to get on a train in my life - the views were well worth it! 

From here we travelled through the "Avenue of the Volcanos" to the colonial town of Cuenca the second Inca city and home of the Panama hat! (and you thought they originated in Pnama!!). The city is full of cobbled stoned streets cathedrals and churchs and relics from the Inca past. It also has its share of nightlife!

 From here we went to the Caja national Park, where again I was struck by altitude sickness! despite that I shoulded on to see this gorgeous park with its numerous, crystal clear lakes....and of course the worlds only fish catching mouse! (I kid you not!! I have proof!)