Virgen de Agua Santa

647 steps to the Virgen de Agua Santa. I walked up to the top and back down, a total of 1294 steps. By the time I got to the bottom, my left leg shook on its own. The mother at the hotel said there are only 200 some-odd steps but I counted them on the way down...all of them...

After the steps, I visited the cemetery. If your family has money, a small house is constructed where the family will be buried, each person with his or her own little room. The rooms are called nichos. They build above ground rather than into the earth, more masoleums than graves. Those with little money or no family are taken care of my the municipio, given small plots with a cross.

The moon was full last night and the stars gorgeous. Because Ecuador´s in the middle of the world, you can see so many of the constellations year-round. The full moon has me moody. It´s a good thing I´m not traveling with anyone else...I´d be insufferable...it´s hard enough for me to stand me!