Ecuador - Riobamba to Guayaquil.

Next stop Riobamba. Riobamba doesn't have much to offer as a tourist destination, but is a very good base to explore the area.

The Main Plaza.

The Main Plaza from the different angle.

Riobamba is surrounded by volcanoes.

You can see them from just any place in town - this one is erupting some gasses.

I stayed in the hostel named Oasis. Nice place with pretty room and parking for my motorcycle. The owner constantly played music which  reminded me Disneyland. On the first day I planned to visit Chimbarazo volcano but later I decided against it. It was Sunday and the mountain more likely going to be very busy with locals. Instead, I picked random road going towards Sangay volcano.

The road started as bitumen.

Passing some beautiful countryside.

All set high in the mountains.

The road quickly changed from bitumen to dirt.

....and  more villages hanged on the side of the mountains.

Sometimes I had to share the road with locals.

I reached the gate but continued further for about 15km.

Frequently I had to pass small creeks.

The road became pretty wet.

But the scenery was amazing. With rising elevation the scenery changed to alpine.

The road became more challenging. I nearly dropped my bike a couple times.

I came to this bridge and decided to turn around. The road was very tough. I would continue with another motorcyclist. Alone was just too risky.

Here where I got unstuck.

My bike with all the accessories weighs around 230kg - excellent exercise.

Nice and clean again.

Here, I passed some locals herding their cows. One of the young bulls didn't wan't to get passed by motorcycle. It took quite an effort. As result my bike got dirty again.

These pigs were pretty relaxed. They didn't move an inch.

And more scenery.

The creek down below carved the whole valley.

I enjoyed the ride despite the fact I had to backtrack. Next day Chimbarazo Volcano.

Chimbarazo appearing high above the clouds.

This is a reminder I am in volcanic country. Layers of consecutive volcano eruptions shown in this cliff.

Alpacas.

They were everywhere. It is amazing how they can thrive in such barren area.

Chimbarazo partially hidden in the clouds.

And here, in full glory. I reached the first shelter.

It is official. My bike is at the elevation of 4814m. Because the earth is buldging on the equator. the Chimbarazo summit is closer to the surface of the moon then summit of Mount Everest.

I am in the snow again. I am on my way to the second shelter.

According to my GPS I overshooted the shelter for about 200 metres - elevation 5200 metres.

Back to shelter number 1, where I met Argentinean couple driving from Argentina to Mexico in old Citroen CV.

Going up was very tough. They told me, on the last leg they were doing about 20km per hour. This is not surprising for this antique motormobile, the elevation at the first shelter is 4800m.

Blog address: citronautasdeamericamestiza.blogspot.com where you can follow their adventure.

The area downhill the volcano is very barren.

.... but full of alpacas.

This photo hints alpaca belongs to camels family.

Some more alpacas on the horizon.

The road surface was excellent.

 In general the state of roads in Ecuador is one of the best I encounter in my whole trip.

The following day more exploring in the mountains. I took a ride towards Altar volcano.

At first I followed the creek.

A donkey man.

I saw some kids fishing in the creek.....

....they told the river is full of trout.

At the end of the road I crossed this bridge and entered the abandoned estate.

The estate was nearly finished....

With swimming pools nearly ready to take on guests.

It looked it was abandoned for several years. I found many projects like this in South and Central America. My take; after financial crash in 2008 the funds dried out and the stream of tourists especially from USA stopped.

Another breath taking view.

Unfortunately my rear tire found 3” nail. The tube was completely wrecked. Lucky me I had spare one. I didn't want to continue without any more spare tubes so I cut my trip short.

The guy sitting on the kerb was completely drunk. Every time he wanted to stand up, everyone around me rush to hold him upright to protect my bike.

My time in Riobamba was finished. My next stop Alausi and the old train ride.

Alausi main street.

.... and the statue of Christ sitting high above the town.

The train station.

The next day I started my train journey.

And the views.

Th canyon was carved through millennia by river below......

.....creating very dramatic landscape.

The train climbed up going through several switchbacks necessary in this difficult terrain.

One of the railway switchback going round the mountain seen below.

We reached the station where we turned around.

But not before we were served with some food and the local traditional dance.

We are on our way back.

We approaching Alausi again.

It was time to move on. The next stop Guayaquil where I am catching my plain to Galapagos Islands.

Last view of Alausi.

Not everyone was born to be rich, never-less very picturesque.

Often I had to ride in the fog. This time I was above the clouds but not for long - very tense ride.

When I started descending towards the coast I hit the road under the construction. A lot of riding behind trucks and buses but passing scenery was beautiful.

Finally back on the tarmac. The climate and the vegetation became more and more tropical.

In Guayaquil I stayed in Nucapacha hostel which had nice pool and bonus two large mango trees.

I had a few days before my flight to Galapagos Islands. My camera lens got scratched. I wanted to buy a new camera. As well I had more time to explore Guayaquil.

Guayaquil is the biggest city in Ecuador with the population of around 3.8 million residents. It used to have very bad reputation especially the area close to the river. Recently the town got a face lift. Everything is changed. There is beautiful Malacen 2000 right along the river full of families every weekend and very well restored town centre.

The view towards Iguana Park and the cathedral.

Iguana Park in Guayaquil....

.....where the iguanas are allowed to roam.

They look quite ferocious.

This pigeon knows better. Iguanas are strictly vegetarians.

There is fence around the park which Iguanas could cross easily.... 

.... but instead they chose park as its home including the trees.

They are everywhere hundreds of them.

This is Sunday. On the weekdays streets are very busy.

The centre of Guayaquil is very well restored. In the background Guayaquil's Yacht Club.

Moorish Clock Tower.

It has been reported that a local scam artist sold the tower to some foreigners a few years ago and took them for thousands of dollars. The story goes; they only discovered, they had been duped, when the police told them they had to leave the premises. They told officers they didn't have to leave because they had purchased this elegant tower .....???? !!!!!

The Malecon 2000.

The Malecon is full of restaurants and shops.

And the river.

The Hemicicio de la Rotanda with the statue of Simon Bolivar.

Rotunda is a part of Almacen 2000.

Visiting tall ship.

On the weekends the Almacen is filled with families, far cry to the shady past.

The waterfront/ Malecon 2000 in full glory.

In the centre of town there are a lot of historical building, all nicely restored..

..... to the left the old Market.

There was time for partying too. The Colombians are heaving its Easter time brake.

Not all are Colombians but certainly they made the biggest noise .....

......having only a few days to enjoy. For them the next stop, up the coast party town Montanita. For me the Galapagos Islands.

Finally the time arrived. I am flying to Galapagos Islands tomorrow. For the record the 6^th of April.

My bike safely parked for a few weeks in the hostel's car park, protected by tall iron fence.

My next blog, Galapagos Islands.