March 8-9, 2015

We stopped to view the first San Franciscan church today. It was built August 15, 2534. The church angles were craved to look like the faces of the natives. The San Franciscan arms were also present. While traveling we learned that is it known that one of the best places to learn Spanish is in Cuenca because of their elaborate pronunciation and lack of slang words. In Ecuador 45 degree is considered flat round and because of this issue and the volcanos it is extremely difficult to build on. Ecuador wanted to create a train track and hired two American engineers who constructed the switchback style. There is a huge cement factory in Chimborazo, Ecuador that creates a lot of jobs for the surrounding areas but the lack of a train to get there was proving problematic. In 1902 they were finally able to make a train track from Riobamba to Quito. They named it the track the “Devils Nose.” Today was probably one of my favorite days on the trip because we got to see firsthand and archeological site in Ingapirca, Ecuador related to the Incas and Pre-Colombian history. The Incas created this complex in Ingapirca about two hours away from Cuenca, Ecuador and coexisted with the Cañari. The Temple of the Sun is located here as well and is noted for the building structure and how the Incas did not use mortars in between their stone work. This was because the area was built on land prone to earthquakes. The architecture was etiquette. It was sad that we learned many of the stones were stolen to use in other structures. We learned about Atawallpa and the fall of the great Inca Empire and how it has impacted the remaining people of Ecuador.