Diario las Américas., 1958-07-29
Know thy
Neighbori
By RUIZ

ECUADOR - Upon entering
Ecuador from the north, on the Co.
lombian border, the traveller goes,
via Pan American Highway, onto
the roof" of the country, in a
dramatic and thrilling journey, in
Guiding the cloud-Swept "altipla-
no., or high plateau, down through
the Incompatible avenue of Vol,
canoes, to LOLA.
Centuries before the Pan Ameri-
can Highway was even dreamed
Of, many sectors of this same route
were a part of what the Spaniards
called Gel Canine Real, or royal
road, which linked Quito and Cuzco,
the capitals of the great Inca En-
pire. Eel Canine Real" was only
a footpath, as there were no
wheel vehicles nor horses in the
country. Since the Incas had no
written language, and the horse
and wheel were unknown to them,
important messages were transmit
ted by means of a system Of relay
runners known as "chasquis'. The
road was paved with cobblestones,
and had suspension bridges and
inns or supply stations along the
route. The ruins of one of these
stations may still be seen at In.
gapirca, near Cuenca.
The Rumichaea natural bridge,
where the gorge of the Carchi River
is squeezed into a bottleneck,
marks the boundary between Co.
lombia and Ecuador. From Rumi-
chaca the road begins its tortuous
climb through the jungles to Tul-
can, the capital of Carchi Province.
At 5000 feet above sea level, Tul.
can is one CT the highest Ecua-
dorean towns, the center of a rich
farming area, and famous for its
excellent dairy products. Beyond
Tulcan, the road climbs to the
top of the "Paramo del Boliche',
a flat inclined plateau rising to a
height of 12,200 feet at eel An
gel', its summit. This lonely, desc
late region is bare, except for &C.
c%asionaf clumps of cacti. The road
then descendS in sharp curves to
Chota, inhabited by coal-black des-
cendants of escaped slaves. Al.
though they dress and speak like
the mountain indians, they still
retain. some of the tribal customs
of their African ancestors.
At the foot of a great purple
mountain is the city of San Anto.
Mo de Ibarra, capital of Imbabura
Province, as well as center of
the Ecuadorean lake region. Found.
eded in 1906, the city was largely
destroyed by an earthquake in
1886. Ibarra has been for a long
time a carving center, noted for
its beautiful images, as well as for
its exquisite silver work. About
five miles from the center of the
town there are some ruins revered
by the natives as the birthplace of
Princess Paccha, mother of the
great Inca Atahualpa, and of Alta
hualpa himself. Also near Ibarra
is Yaguarocha (Lake of Blood),
SO named because according to
legend it turned red when the vic,
torious Incas threw their slain enc.
mics, the CaraS, into the blue
grey lake. C%otacachi, a highly in.
~teresting Indian town, produces
leather goods, cotton textiles, and
wooden ponchos. 1t is noted for
its hot springs and the nearby
waterfall of Pegpche.
From Ibarra, the highway CONT
nues curving down to the Otavalo
Valley. In the distance, the great
Imbabura shows its rounded peak
over the eNudo de Cajas', a cluster
of mountains. Directly ahead, the
visitor can take a glance at the
imposing Cotacachi mountain. To
the left of the highway is Otavalo,
a charming village surrounded by
green fields, cut by rows of slender
eucalyptus trees. 1t is noted for
its picturesque fairs, which are
held every Saturday. From Ota-
yalo the road leads to Cayambe,
and from there to Quito, the CAPT
tai Of the Republic, 1t is only
about three hours drive.
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