Ok so it seems the only internet cafe in Vilcabamba has horrible internet and our new pictures arent loading, we will try to go to one in Loja to finish this blog.
After leaving the first farm in Baños we went to Salinas, a small town at 3550m by Mt. Chimborazo. It is known for great chocolate, salami, cheese, and llama sweaters. The next day we left on another 8 hour bus ride north to Quito to stay the night on our way to the Orient (jungle). That night we went to Quicentro Sur, the biggest mall in all of South America. It was a depressing concentration of the wealthy Ecuadorians trying to imitate American lifestyle. Quicentro Sur was an unfortunate contrast to everything we've been doing here in Ecuador. The next day was another 10 hours of sickening bus rides all the way down into the jungle. Because of a friend we met we decided to stay in Lago Agrio (named ¨sour lake¨ after the oil found there). Being 30 min from Columbia it was dangerous and had little to offer other than oppressive heat. So once again the next day we took off back towards Baños on our longest ride yet to make it there for halloween. Baños was a welcoming sight. we stayed at a hostel rather than the farm and met many new friends while enjoying some of the more touristy aspects of the city. We left towards Riobamba in hope of cathing the crazy ¨Nariz del Diablo¨(an infamous section of the railway in ecuador) but to no avail (its cosed because two guys died om it recently). Two of our friends, Maria and Maria, from Baños traveled with us all the way to Cuenca where we spent two nights. Cuenca was amazing (resembles a european city), we explored churches and ran into more friends.
Vilcabamba is a small town with many ¨gringos¨but is incredibly beautiful and known for people living until they are 130 yrs old. We ended up meeting owners of a brand new farm where we spent a week out on the mountain. Then we got an offer from the discoteca owner to work and live with him. So we are now working 12 hrs a day at Papayas (the restaurant above the disco, and is Ironically named our least favorite food) for about 30 cents an hour. One day off a week, all meals are given to us and a room nearby! On the weekends we are the bartenders for the club (though he said we can dance too).