Important Things to Remember in Riobamba

We have had the privilege of traveling to many different countries during our 42 years of marriage.  Before this adventure, we would pack our backpacks, buy a Eurorail Pass and take off for 2-3 weeks in many different countries.  As we entered different countries, we were confronted with different languages, cultures, traditions and currency.  We never made reservations; just stopped wherever the train took us.  In some countries, we could drink the water, we could eat off the floor, toilets were free :), toilet paper wasn't free, but was available to buy from the toilet attendant.  In other countries, if you dropped your bread, you just left it, public toilets were hard to find, you better have toilet coins and your own toilet paper (tp), the attendant bangs on the toilet door if you stay too long, laundomats were scarce, and you had better not sing in the shower for fear of water getting in your mouth.

Things to remember here in Riobamba: a combination of all the above.  DO NOT drink the water, don't eat the bread you drop, don't EVER flush tp down the toilet..  Public toilets are free, but tp is not supplied, and bathroom soap isn't either! 

Laundromats here abound and are very clean, and they have attendants.  Bakeries are everywhere, but don't expect change from a $20.00 bill. There's a parade every weekend. There's no Starbuck's and Juan Valdez's coffee costs $20.00 for two pounds.  You can't take anything into a supermarket; a guard takes it and puts it in a locker...even your water bottle.  Banks are protected by a guard in the lobby with a silver sawed-off shotgun.  Meat markets are plentiful and the skinned animals dangle.  Modest dress is practiced. We rarely see a smoker and butts are non-existent.  Everyone speaks to us, and they all want to practice their limited English with our limited Spanish.

Everyday is a day of discovery and exploration.  But, then, all cultures are! And, this culture is surrounded by the magnificent volcanic Andes Mountain Range.  We pray your week is full of discovery right where you live, too.