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Sunday
May 29, 2016
First things first----- Happy 100th Birthday Mom !! Even though you passed away this last Feb. 9th, we are thinking of you on this big day.
Because of you we were feeling quite generous to the less fortunate today on our journeys.
The Herederos del Pasado have had a ride to Biblian scheduled for weeks now and I thought that I was going to be joined by 2 other Americans but they wimped out because it had rained up to an hour before. The group was to meet before 9am at a gas station in the west end and I had told them that I would join up with them at Challuabamba. Because of the rain I wasn't sure if they would continue with the ride so I rushed out, gassed up, and waited for them on the Autopista instead. I finally called one of the fellows after 9:30 and, after a lot of confusion, realized at 10am that they had somehow taken a different route and were now at Challuabamba. So off I rushed to meet them there. We were 10 bikes and 12 people on this ride.
It wasn't the greatest of mornings but it kept improving slowly, and no more rain... Biblian has this amazing muti-storied structure and church built into a mountainside. I had been here several times before so I did the steep climb behind the church to get some shots from over the spire. I was coming down when most of the group was going up. I went over to Toxic and rolled it down to the base of the church where there were some food tents. A little old indigenous lady followed me and was chattering away to me, probably in the Kichwa language. Anyway, I gave her most of my fries, then bought her an empanada, and then gave her some money. She posed for me, and when the group came down, she posed for them too. Most of the group also had a snack too before we started heading back to Azogues.
Azogues is another town with a very dominant church up high on a mountainside and I was initially diasappointed when we were riding right by, but there was a reason... lunch.... We stopped at a place with the roast pig and we all had a plate of chancho, which comprises of pork, pork rind, nuts, and tasteless white corn. I passed on the white corn. The 3 visiting riders from Medellin were with our group (heading to Loja tomorrow) so I bought their lunch today.
Then I was happy when we backtracked and went to the big church. Some old folks begging on the church steps relieved us of some cash as well.
I apologize if I am rambling or incoherent in this missive, but I am operating on only one cylinder from lack of sleep and all this computer work.
I hope you enjoy the photos. That was the day's
excitement, Cheers,
Al
© All my work is COPYRIGHT protected and may not be used in any way without
purchase, or without my permission.
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| An iffy morning but obviously clearing.. |
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| Meeting the gang at Challuabamba |
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| Pulling up to the side of the Biblian church |
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| Trying to find space to park the bikes |
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| The view from up here is breathtaking |
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| This chapel is two levels below the blue cone steeple |
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| It is a two-storey chapel! |
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| Altar, baptistry, and statuary |
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| Beginning the climb behind the steeple |
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| Lovely view from the top level |
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| Up and up we go |
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| Higher |
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| Still higher |
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| They are coming up, I am going down |
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| Most of the parked vehicles are gone |
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| This little granny followed me down on foot |
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| Yes, a multi-storey religious complex |
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| Sign shows the lovely night lighting |
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| Another angle, I see an open door |
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| The door is to a mausoleum |
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| The group is making their way back down |
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| I just love this green view over Biblian town |
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| Granny posing for me |
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| A view with the bike lineup |
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| Toxic can keep up with the Joneses |
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| The gang having some snack food |
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| Gotta see this enlarged - Great reflection! |
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| This one too! |
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| A look back as we ride away |
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| A small park in Biblian |
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| Riding into Azogues |
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| Stopping for chancho |
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| One of the Medellin fellows filming the roasted pig |
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| He commented on how contented the pig looked |
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| Taking over most of the parking lot |
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| My chancho meal without the bland "mote" corn |
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| Didn't expect to see this near the Azogues church!!! |
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| A view from the steps |
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| It is not a bad climb |
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| This impressive structure can be seen for miles |
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| It has a gorgeous interior and altar |
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| The gilded altar is eye-catching |
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| A good view back to Cojitambo |
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| This poor lady got some coin |
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| The group in Azogues |
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| Father & son, I liked the shot... |
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| Interesting artwork for sale, including the Mona Lisa! |
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| Wanting to join Bob marley for a toke... |
