Feb 2, 2013 - Loja

Let's see, where did I leave you... Oh yeah, I had decided to stay in Vilcacamba for 3 more days. Well, those were pretty similar to earlier days: breakfast, walking, hammock time, hiking in the countryside, a few meals, rotating through a handful of restaurants. I spent quite a bit of time with Dave sharing meals and conversation. We even went back to Izcayluma for dinner on Tuesday. The food and the views are great, but I had forgotten how slow the service can be! Well, all this speaking English has been great but I feel like I took a...

Dec 15, 2012 - Loja

Nous voilà déjà en Equateur. Je suis toute contente d'y retourner 7 ans déjà après y avoir fait mon stage. Nous commençons par Loja, une ville au climat agréable et avec de nombreux parcs, dans le sud du pays. C'était très sympa, car nous avons pu rencontrer Angeles une amie à David (mon ancien collègue). Avec Angeles, nous avons pu tester les empanadas de verde (chaussons à la pâte de banane verte fourrés au poulet), le café qui est l'un des meilleurs d'Amérique du Sud et les bières locales. Nous avons également bien papoté. Notre séjour...

Oct 24, 2012 - Repairs and mountain drive to Loja

A short drive today, so the morning was spent doing jobs. We had experienced a rather bad knocking sound on the rough road up to the top of the volcano yesterday and I was anxious to find out what was causing it - fearing that it was a repetition of the spring problem from Colombia. The problem turned out to be the handrake. On a deep bump, the axle had moved fully up and the handbrake cable caught on an exhaust bracket, damaging the cable and wrenching off the handbrake calliper retaining bolt. I was livid. This was a newly fitted...

May 5, 2012 - Exploring Loja and Vilcabamba

4-hour bus trip from Loja to Cuenca for $3.75 with senior discount Hotel America $14 per person in triple room (not to be confused with Hotel Americano, quite a different level of hostel), breakfast included Mar Rojo for seafood Casa del Sol for after-dinner drinks We traveled to Vilcabamba to our favorite hotel, Hostal Izhcayluma ($15 per night, triple room, breakfast included or $10 per bed in a dorm) for a couple of days. We dined, had drinks, and played pool with our friends Dilys and Chris Coals who live in the Valley of Longevity....

Jul 4, 2011 - Loja and Vilcabamba

We arrived in the city of Loja late on Sunday afternoon to find it empty and raining. After checking into a hostel, we went on the hunt for food, only to find that every single eatery bar one (which was an overpriced grill) was closed, which meant that we ended up buying yogurt, crisps and peanuts from the local Tia and eating them in our room, grudgingly. In spite of this wet welcome, we woke up on Monday morning fully intending to start afresh with a plan to explore the old city in what we hoped would be typical southern sunshine. Sadly,...

Jun 12, 2010 - Loja - Recommended Border Crossing to Peru

Watched the US vs England soccer game, walked around town, went to garden of paradise and then to Loja by 4 pm. From bus station we walked across street to Hostel Maribella for a room $20 US, hot shower (lie) and TV. Watched more soccer, walked around the area, got supplies for long bus tomor (8+4hrs).

Mar 21, 2009 - Loja

Arrived by 6-hour bus from Cuenca on March 21 and stayed 2 nights: Saturday and Sunday. Loja was very quiet on the weekend because most stores and restaurants close for Sunday, which is nice. There are many nice parks and churches to explore, which we did, and we had a wonderful room in the Hostal Americano for $15 pp. This was a nice stopover enroute to Vilcabamba where we plan to be for about 3 weeks, including Semana Santa (Holy Week for Easter).

Apr 26, 2008 - In route to Vilcabamba

The last week of classes went well. Learning and speaking more and more each day! The three of us girls took another salsa lessions on Wednesday and only one thing is for certain: we can´t dance. Cuenca was an enjoyable experience, but I have been growing increasingly anxious to escape to a warmer, less rainy climate- not to mention, the city. In Route: bus´n it again..... Ahh. Yes! I recieved a seat on this 5 1/2 hour bus journey to Loja- on my way south to Vicabamba. Last weekend, on the way to Cajas, the conductor had forced the three...

Nov 16, 2007 - loja

Toch een min of meer snelle internetverbinding gevonden in Loja en dus wat foto's geuploaded. Gisterenavond rond 22.00u een aardbeving meegemaakt van 6,7 op de schaal van Richter. Epicentrum van de beving was aan de grens met Peru, op een paar honderd kilometer van hier en duurde enkele tientallen seconden. Hier waren er geen gevolgen en ook op de plaats van het gebeuren viel alles goed mee. De huizen en hostals worden hier dan ook stevig gebouwd met heel wat ijzervlechtwerk in het beton. Loja is een heel levendige stad met heel wat...

Dec 22, 2006 - LAJO, Equador

Happy Birthday Dad, lots of love from Pops and Andy ...we have now entered Equador. The final few hours in Peru were thru quite average scenary but once we had arrived over the border this improved for the better as we climbed back into the Andes. Again we were led to believe that Layo was going to be better than it turned out and although it may be a nicish town, it wasn`t anything special and we again moved on the following day...

Apr 16, 2006 - Loja - Ecuador

Arrived in Loja on Easter Sunday (big day in S.America) so everything barring a dog meat burger joint was shut. We ate in there for the evening then crashed out in our room to recover from a long day on the bus and to get ready for our visit to Vilcabamba health spa the next day.

Apr 12, 2006 - Goodbye Ecuador, Hello Peru!

Well, slight change in plan! To get to Vilcabamba we had to take a 6 hour bus journey to a place called Loja to change buses. I thought that getting front row seats would get the best views driving through the Andes, so Mike and I were pretty chuffed with ourselves as Dom pulled the short straw, the back row seat where you feel all the bumps!! How wrong could I be!!! Firstly I was uncomfortably squished for the whole journey due to the Ecuadorian lady next to me sharing her seat with her cute but oversized 8 year old daughter! The lady was...