Nice pics

"Nice pics" is one of Fredi's favorite phrases in English, due to his exposure to Facebook. Today, thanks to a fast internet connection in Riobamba, where I am vacationing for the weekend, I give you some nice pics of Tuesday's trip to Nariz del Diablo, and some others of key people and places in Tolte. Here goes:

Two of the three buildings that make up the Escuela Arenillas Tolte. The other is to the right of this picture, at the other end of the plaza. The library and Laboratorio de Computacion are just to the right of this pic.

 Nariz del Diablo is the small, steep mountain at the left of this picture, just above the truck tailgate. This picture was taken in the back of Francisco's truck as we rode to Alausi

This is Angus Lyall, tireless development worker and unflappably good-natured. Of course, he made this whole adventure possible by hiring me.

Nariz del Diablo from the train station. You can see a bit of the zig-zag track. It's hard to figure out how anyone managed to work on the mountainside at all. It's also easy to understand from a physical perspective why there were so many fatalities in its construction (though perhaps harder to understand from an ethical perespective.)

The touristic railway cars, quite handsome indeed. I'm not sure how closely they resemble the originals.

Some of my friends and neighbors: From the left, a partial pic of Mariana Chogllo (Jose's sister, I think), Maria Elena (Narcisa's mother, talented farmer), someone blocked by a pole, Mesias, the teniente politico, who is responsible for certain official paperwork functions in Tolte, a friend I haven't met yet, Ascencio, Francisco's brother and former community president, Mesias, my store-owner friend featured in previous entries, Francisco, persidente de la junta directiva de Tolte, and Christian, farm laborer, futbolista and occasional adult English student.

A quick shot of mixed Agriculture in Pistishi. I believe that this is Alicia's farm, next door to Maria Elena's (actually, her brother in law's land). You can see naranjilla and cabbage at the low level, fruit trees (maybe Cherimoya--I can't remember from this pic) above. Note scenic burro in background. Jeff will be disappointed to learn that no one here keeps llamas--they are regarded as more appropriate to higher altitudes with colder climates.