Mancora Boyz

Pretty nice little surf town located on the Salt Coast.

Stayed at a tiny oasis in the desert…
We had our own bungalows
Got to throw some sun on our biker (turkey) legs!
Lots of cats, I had some cans of tuna from Ambato in my bag…
Pretty decent sunset

Borderz – Peru

We headed out early as possible from Machala, after a fire in a building next door, an explosion at 2am, and, of course, a power outage at 5am.

Leaving was no walk in the park.

Yeah, that’s the highway ending, a bunch of banditos soliciting tips, and a cop surrounded by 40 people and a pile of burning..?
We thought it was pretty organized, but found ourselves leaving Ecuador, entering Peru, leaving Peru, entering Ecuador, leaving Ecuador, entering Peru, then finally staying in Peru!
This guy is on the Ecuadorian side, but for some reason works for Peru.
Can’t help myself, sorry!!
Made it! Welcome to Peru?

Machala Boyz

Don’t ever, ever go here. We avoided Guayaquil because of the violence and crime, but this place apparently wasn’t far enough away. Sad.

There was a stabbing at an ATM when we got there.
Worst sidewalks since Mongolia.
The post-apocalyptic architecture was interesting… and no one ever stopped at this light.
My sentiment exactly. Adios, Machala.

Cuenca Boyz

Street art, the guy who did this was standing behind me after I took the photo. When I asked him what it was, he just said “art” and that it was his girlfriend who wanted him to do it, so it’s literally him painting himself with his girlfriend telling him to do it.
If you know me, you know I am not a big fan of sweets.. but maybe after some pork, or cuy?
These ladies yelled the loudest, so we had to stop.
The most amazing meat and crispy skin I’ve had in decades. What’s in the bag?
Alex and I were eating these at dinner – is it a nut? Seed? Garlic? What is it?
Went to a couple markets…
3 different kinds of hominy?
Ecuador is chicken wing crazy right now.
The mom came in later and she brought the snacks – it’s corn you morons (loosely translated)!
Yup.
Ok, I broke down and ALex and I visited the most popular chocolatier in Cuenca.
Americano and bitter hot chocolate. Absolutely delicious.
Can you spot the item out of place in the chocolateria?
Shoeshine stalls outside the market, Ecuador was shoe crazy as well.
Adios, Cuenca!

Chimborazo Volcanoz

I rode out to take a hike to the Whymper cabin, the highest lodging point on the volcano. Having spent a couple weeks at between 8-10k feet in altitude, I figured it would be ok.

Saw a lot of vicuña on the road up to the first refuge.
Yeah
First camp. I can already feel the altitude.

Second camp. Took me about 45 minutes to make the short climb.

View from the top… amazing.
View to the top, what only another mile to the top (of the world, that’s right Mt Everest, kiss my butt)?
Yeah, I suck at selfies… especially when your phone is stuck in portrait mode… whyyyyyyyyyyy?

Ambato Boyz

Spent a couple of extra days for some rest before moving on. Strange town, used to be pretty important when the railway ran through it, not no-mo.

Stayed a pretty swanky hotel the first night – Hotel Miraflores in the old part of town.
Visited the flower park.
Lots and lots of hills….

Quito Boyz

Got in to Quito a little late, the parking situation was the worst we’ve seen – about four blacks away, 100 ft straight up a small boulder path with a tight turn at the end..

Not fun… Ask Alex.

View from the hotel balcony
View from the street a few blocks away

Sugar cane is ridiculously important in this part of the world.

Sugar cane is ridiculously important in the part of the world, so much that their currency was named after it… Unfortunately, they are now on the USD, boooooooring.