El Nariz del Diablo
We hopped on the train, which looked more like a bus but really was a train, and took our seats in the way back inside of the train car. There was only one train car, so it REALLY looked like a bus, and they told us that this was because it was off season. I've seen pictures on other blogs of this train having 5 or more cars, but those blogs also told about derailments, so I don't mind our little one!
This used to be a well-used train route through Ecuador, but now is really only used by tourists. Lots of gringos speaking a variety of European languages. But it was still really cool. Once at the bottom of the valley, everyone traded seats - those inside got to go up and those up top had to come inside. We got the best spot on the train - on top looking off the back. Glorious! It actually felt a lot like being on an amusement park ride, and the sound of the train on the tracks added to that.
In this one, looking out the back window at one of the switchbacks that is so steep and tight that the train actually backs up (or down) the hill until the next switchback.
Notice the cornfields! There were so many corn fields throughout these mountains, tucked into sides of the hills that made me wonder how people could even get to them.
Coming back into Alausi.
I just love the colorfulness of the people.
Back on the Panamerican Highway.
This used to be a well-used train route through Ecuador, but now is really only used by tourists. Lots of gringos speaking a variety of European languages. But it was still really cool. Once at the bottom of the valley, everyone traded seats - those inside got to go up and those up top had to come inside. We got the best spot on the train - on top looking off the back. Glorious! It actually felt a lot like being on an amusement park ride, and the sound of the train on the tracks added to that.
In this one, looking out the back window at one of the switchbacks that is so steep and tight that the train actually backs up (or down) the hill until the next switchback.
Notice the cornfields! There were so many corn fields throughout these mountains, tucked into sides of the hills that made me wonder how people could even get to them.
Coming back into Alausi.
I just love the colorfulness of the people.
Back on the Panamerican Highway.