CUENCA & THE BORDER, ECUADOR

The border crossing between Peru and Ecuador is just plain awkward. The customs offices of each country are in the middle of nowhere and there doesn't seem to be an actual crossing. First we stopped in a nondescript building to obtain the Peruvian exit stamp. Then we crossed the town of Aguas Verde which is essentially the border, to continue driving on the highway for another 20 minutes until we encountered the modern Ecuadorian border post where we obtained an entry stamp. It is highly recommended to take a direct bus between the two countries since the bus company escorts passengers through the process. We met many travelers who decided to do the crossing by themselves, hiring local transportation to manage the long and empty distances, only to have all their possessions stolen or nearly escaping robbery. 

Once finished with border crossing formalities it was on to a windy road through lush banana plantations and then up the Andes once again, finally reaching Cuenca. The cities lively streets and its colonial flavour make it a pleasant place to spend a few days. We've already been in many colonial towns during this trip and were less inclined to take pictures, hence we apologise for the mediocre photo album above. This is our second time in Ecuador having visited a few years ago, so we felt rather comfortable being back in more "familiar" territory. Last time that happened it was in Buenos Aires where we were robbed on arrival but this time it was not to be!

Cuencans were celebrating the festival of Corpus Cristy which meant every night for the entire week people invaded the downtown square following mass to savour barbecued meats and the countless pastries and sweets being sold in street stands throughout town. It was a relaxing week for us, resting at the comfortable Alternative Hostel, spending evenings in shisha lounges, and drinking micro brewed beers, treats rarely encountered on the continent. With mild weather and a festive atmosphere during weekends it's easy to see why Cuenca has such a large expat population.