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taboo5 | profile | all galleries >> Ecuador >> Andes Mts. (Ecuador) and Chiva Express (January 2008) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Andes Mts. (Ecuador) and Chiva Express (January 2008)

In the 19th century, attempts were made to build the railway from Guayaquil to Quito. An agreement was reached in 1895 with American technicians Archer Harman and Edward Morely and "The Guayaquil and Quito Railway Company" to start the construction on the "most difficult railway in the world" as it was called at that time. Construction began in 1899. It came upon a huge obstacle at a perpendicular wall of rock called "Devil’s Nose" near the town of Alausí. Engineers ruled out tunneling through the mountain and decided that they must go up, instead. Around 3,000 lives were lost building this masterpiece of railway engineering. A zigzag was carved out of the rock of Devil’s Nose, which allowed the train, by advancing and backing up, to reach the necessary height to the town of Alausí. For many years, train service along this line was discontinued due to flooding, mudslides and lack of funding. In 2005, the Chiva Express tourist line was opened along this historic route through the Ecuadorian Andes at altitudes up to 3,600 meters above sea level. It passes by active volcanoes and snow-capped mountains through the beautiful countryside of Riobamba and Alausi to Devil’s Nose. The Chiva Express is like an old-fashioned Latin American bus, except that it is a train. You can take in the spectacular view from the roof or from the comfortable interior. It is an opportunity to see the Ecuadorian Mts. up close and to experience one of the most amazing train trips in the world!
Andes Mts. and Chiva Express cover page.
Andes Mts. and Chiva Express cover page.		 Topographical map of Ecuador showing the Atlas Mountains.
Topographical map of Ecuador showing the Atlas Mountains.		 Pig carcasses for sale at a food market in San Goqui (the first stop on my Andes tour).
Pig carcasses for sale at a food market in San Goqui (the first stop on my Andes tour).		 Me pointing proudly to a sausage and meat stand in the market.
Me pointing proudly to a sausage and meat stand in the market.
An energy drink sold at the market. Maybe, I'll look like that if I drink it!
An energy drink sold at the market. Maybe, I'll look like that if I drink it!		 Two Ecuadorian Indian women shucking peas.
Two Ecuadorian Indian women shucking peas.		 A fruit and vegetable vendor amongst his produce.
A fruit and vegetable vendor amongst his produce.		 Two friendly vendors selling fruit at the market.
Two friendly vendors selling fruit at the market.
This woman would not let me take her picture, so I snuck up behind her to get this one!
This woman would not let me take her picture, so I snuck up behind her to get this one!		 Tourists disembarking from the Chiva Express train that took us through the Andes Mts.
Tourists disembarking from the Chiva Express train that took us through the Andes Mts.		 Ecuadorian cowboys greeting us at La Alegria hacienda, during a train stop on the Chiva Express.
Ecuadorian "cowboys" greeting us at La Alegria hacienda, during a train stop on the Chiva Express.		 La Alegria is a family-run organic farm in the heart of Ecuador's Avenue of the Volcanoes.
La Alegria is a family-run organic farm in the heart of Ecuador's "Avenue of the Volcanoes."
A cowboy with his son on horseback at the hacienda.
A cowboy with his son on horseback at the hacienda.		 A milk cow at the hacienda. I milked a cow while there.
A milk cow at the hacienda. I milked a cow while there.		 Milk production equipment at the hacienda.
Milk production equipment at the hacienda.		 Horses at the hacienda bred from mixed Criollo (native South American), English thoroughbred and Arabian stock.
Horses at the hacienda bred from mixed Criollo (native South American), English thoroughbred and Arabian stock.
One of the Ecuadorian cowboys showing his skills with a rope.
One of the Ecuadorian cowboys showing his skills with a rope.		 The same cowboy pulling a horse.
The same cowboy pulling a horse.		 Another cowboy demonstrated how to lassoo a bull.
Another cowboy demonstrated how to lassoo a bull.		 After lassooing the bull, he pulled back on the rope to tighten it around the bull's neck.
After lassooing the bull, he pulled back on the rope to tighten it around the bull's neck.
Close-up of the bull.
Close-up of the bull.		 This cowboy opened a pen to let out alpacas and llamas into the corral.
This cowboy opened a pen to let out alpacas and llamas into the corral.		 Alpacas and llamas running into the corral.
Alpacas and llamas running into the corral.		 A boy at the hacienda holding a llama with a rope.
A boy at the hacienda holding a llama with a rope.
Close-up of the boy and the llama.
Close-up of the boy and the llama.		 Me posing with the llama.
Me posing with the llama.		 I snapped this photo of this metal wagon at the hacienda.
I snapped this photo of this metal wagon at the hacienda.		 Farmhouse at the hacienda where we had a delicious breakfast.
Farmhouse at the hacienda where we had a delicious breakfast.
Fountain at hacienda La Alegria.
Fountain at hacienda La Alegria.		 After breakfast, we re-boarded the Chiva Express from which I snapped this photo of cows grazing.
After breakfast, we re-boarded the Chiva Express from which I snapped this photo of cows grazing.		 Our next stop was just ahead. We got off the train to visit a rose farm.
Our next stop was just ahead. We got off the train to visit a rose farm.		 Tambo Roses produces and exports a great number of rose varieties that are shipped all over the world.
Tambo Roses produces and exports a great number of rose varieties that are shipped all over the world.
The roses were almost in bloom in time for Valentines Day when over 600,000 roses are shipped out.
The roses were almost in bloom in time for Valentines Day when over 600,000 roses are shipped out.		 Close-up of one of the varieties of roses.
Close-up of one of the varieties of roses.		 A beautiful pink rose at Tambo Roses.
A beautiful pink rose at Tambo Roses.		 This worker with the mask was getting ready to spray the roses.
This worker with the mask was getting ready to spray the roses.
Another gorgeous rose that was blooming at the rose farm.
Another gorgeous rose that was blooming at the rose farm.		 A cream colored rose at Tambo Roses.
A cream colored rose at Tambo Roses.		 Bunches of roses that were being prepared before shipping.
Bunches of roses that were being prepared before shipping.		 This worker at Tambo Roses was cutting and pruning the roses.
This worker at Tambo Roses was cutting and pruning the roses.
Bunches of roses in a multiple colors to be shipped out for Valentines Day.
Bunches of roses in a multiple colors to be shipped out for Valentines Day.		 After leaving the rose farm, we passed by this active volcano in Ecuador's Avenue of the Volcanoes.
After leaving the rose farm, we passed by this active volcano in Ecuador's "Avenue of the Volcanoes."		 Ash billowing from the volcano.
Ash billowing from the volcano.		 Our next stop was the Taller de Tagua gift shop where this woman was spinning alpaca wool.
Our next stop was the Taller de Tagua gift shop where this woman was spinning alpaca wool.
This Ecuadorian man in alpaca chaps posed with an alpaca.
This Ecuadorian man in alpaca chaps posed with an alpaca.		 A mother and her pure white baby in front of the Taller de Tagua gift shop.
A mother and her pure white baby in front of the Taller de Tagua gift shop.		 The mother and baby at rest.
The mother and baby at rest.		 Close-up of the baby alpaca.
Close-up of the baby alpaca.
A bucolic photo of the Taller de Tagua gift shop, which is next to the train tracks.
A bucolic photo of the Taller de Tagua gift shop, which is next to the train tracks.		 Ecuadorian man carving ivory-like figurines from seed of the tagua fruit.
Ecuadorian man carving ivory-like figurines from seed of the tagua fruit.		 Close-up of tagua seed carving in process.
Close-up of tagua seed carving in process.		 Finished tagua souvenirs that were being sold at the Taller de Tagua gift shop.
Finished tagua souvenirs that were being sold at the Taller de Tagua gift shop.
View of an old-fashioned locomotive that we passed by on the Chiva Express in the town of Riobamba.
View of an old-fashioned locomotive that we passed by on the Chiva Express in the town of Riobamba.		 Following are photos that I took from the top of the Chiva Express train.
Following are photos that I took from the top of the Chiva Express train.		 The landscape is very verdant because it rains a lot there.
The landscape is very verdant because it rains a lot there.		 We passed through hilly farmland with cows grazing.
We passed through hilly farmland with cows grazing.
More Ecuadorian farmland in the Andes.
More Ecuadorian farmland in the Andes.		 Cows and sheep grazing with farmhouses in the background.
Cows and sheep grazing with farmhouses in the background.		 View from the top of the Chiva Express. It was becoming more mountainous.
View from the top of the Chiva Express. It was becoming more mountainous.		 Pine trees along a rocky mountainscape.
Pine trees along a rocky mountainscape.
The next stop of the Chiva Express was the Indian market in the town of Guamote.
The next stop of the Chiva Express was the Indian market in the town of Guamote.		 Thursday is market day at this traditional country market in this small town, one hour south of Riobamba.
Thursday is market day at this traditional country market in this small town, one hour south of Riobamba.		 A produce truck was being unloaded at the Indian market.
A produce truck was being unloaded at the Indian market.		 A man bringing his sheep to the market. Indigenous people bring their products from their farms in the surrounding area.
A man bringing his sheep to the market. Indigenous people bring their products from their farms in the surrounding area.
A woman buying jewelry from a vendor at the market.
A woman buying jewelry from a vendor at the market.		 Indian vendors with pig carcasses for sale at the Guamote Market.
Indian vendors with pig carcasses for sale at the Guamote Market.		 Some of the local people walking through the market.
Some of the local people walking through the market.		 This Indian man was coaxing his pig through the market.
This Indian man was coaxing his pig through the market.
School children in Guamote lined up along this fence before the Chiva Express pulled away.
School children in Guamote lined up along this fence before the Chiva Express pulled away.		 A panoramic photo of all the children along the fence. They were really cute!
A panoramic photo of all the children along the fence. They were really cute!		 Me in a poncho on top of the Chiva Express. It was really cold on top!
Me in a poncho on top of the Chiva Express. It was really cold on top!		 More landscape pictures that I took from the top of Chiva Express.
More landscape pictures that I took from the top of Chiva Express.
Some of the countryside was rather barren.
Some of the countryside was rather barren.		 Cattle grazing with mountains in the background.
Cattle grazing with mountains in the background.		 Pine trees along the train's path.
Pine trees along the train's path.		 Wispy clouds were offset by a blue sky that day.
Wispy clouds were offset by a blue sky that day.
The train passed through this mountain ravine.
The train passed through this mountain ravine.		 Along some of the ravines were river gorges.
Along some of the ravines were river gorges.		 From this view from the top of the Chiva Express, the ravines were becoming more precipitous.
From this view from the top of the Chiva Express, the ravines were becoming more precipitous.		 The train made an unscheduled stop, because of a mudslide that made the tracks impassable.
The train made an unscheduled stop, because of a mudslide that made the tracks impassable.
Fortunately, these workers freed the tracks for us. We all passed a hat for them!
Fortunately, these workers freed the tracks for us. We all passed a hat for them!		 Our next train stop was at the town of Alausí where this stagecoach was parked in front of the train station.
Our next train stop was at the town of Alausí where this stagecoach was parked in front of the train station.		 This Christ statue stands on a hill over the town. I took this photo with a telephoto lens.
This Christ statue stands on a hill over the town. I took this photo with a telephoto lens.		 Me standing on the back of the Chiva Express at the Alausí train station.
Me standing on the back of the Chiva Express at the Alausí train station.
A side view of the Chiva Express.
A side view of the Chiva Express.		 Front view of the Chiva Express at the Alausí train station.
Front view of the Chiva Express at the Alausí train station.		 The train now proceeded from Alausí to Devil's Nose, the most treacherous leg of the Chiva Express train trip.
The train now proceeded from Alausí to Devil's Nose, the most treacherous leg of the Chiva Express train trip.		 View of a mountain ravine as we approached Devil's Nose.
View of a mountain ravine as we approached Devil's Nose.
Some of the Chiva Express switchback tracks can be seen in the ravine below.
Some of the Chiva Express switchback tracks can be seen in the ravine below.		 View of Devil's Nose. Construction of the switchbacks there was one of the world's most impressive feats of rail engineering.
View of Devil's Nose. Construction of the switchbacks there was one of the world's most impressive feats of rail engineering.		 View while we passed along the precipitous rock wall of Devil's Nose.
View while we passed along the precipitous rock wall of Devil's Nose.		 Another view of Devil's Nose. In the 19th century, 3,000 workers died constructing the switchbacks and train line there.
Another view of Devil's Nose. In the 19th century, 3,000 workers died constructing the switchbacks and train line there.
The train made a photo stop in the valley below Devil's Nose.
The train made a photo stop in the valley below Devil's Nose.		 The Chiva Express with Devil's Nose in the background.
The Chiva Express with Devil's Nose in the background.		 View of the train driver as the Chiva Express returned from Devil's Nose back to Alausí.
View of the train driver as the Chiva Express returned from Devil's Nose back to Alausí.		 The tracks in front of us on our return trip to Alausí.
The tracks in front of us on our return trip to Alausí.

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Fred Gary12-Jan-2009 03:25
Great shots and narrative. I will be visiting Ecuador in the end of March as part of a mission trip with our church. we will be staying in Pifo and working on a school building about an hour away and 3000 feet higher.
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