Day 129      Cuenca is the third largest city (distant third) in Ecuador.  We found it manageable and touristy, especially in its small, colonial center.  Cuenca is good for sightseeing, museums, and shopping.  We went to several art exhibits and visited many churches.  The �new�cathedral is awe-inspiring, of imported marble, and built in 1885.  Across the park is the �old�cathedral which was built in 1557 and is much smaller.  The shopping is best for hand-made crafts including Panama hats.  Panama hats actually originated in Ecuador but received their name when they were sent to workers building the canal.  The quality varies greatly with the best crafted for over a month and the cheapest in less than an hour (all handmade, though).  Also, the finer hats can be rolled to the size of a newspaper and still retain its perfect shape. Hotel -$8, Food -$13, Trans. -$2, Random, movie -$2     Total -$25

Day 130      We continued exploring the city today, going further and further from the center and taking time to enjoy the great smell of blooming lilac trees in the parks.  It was a sunny Saturday and lots of people were also out and about. Hotel -$8, Food -$10, Random, internet -$2     Total -$20

Day 131      We moved South today to Loja, our last stop before the Peruvian border.  The ride was scenic as we travelled up, down, and around the hills and mountains of the Cordillera.  We passed through small, farming communities including one with a 10-foot statue of an ear of corn.  The traditional dress deserves special mention.  Men have long, black, braided hair and wear black felt hats, black jackets or sweaters, white shirts, black shorts, and black socks and shoes.  It is a good look.  Women dress similarly to those in the rest of the country with gold-beaded necklaces, embroidered blouses, and black pleated skirts.      We liked Loja at night as it is illumintatd by hundreds of lights.  Also, Loja has a castle and bridge guarding its entrance. Hotel -$4, Food -$8, Random, internet -$5     Total - $24

Day 132      Missing our bus this morning, we did some unexpected sightseeing.  Loja has an unusual number of statues and murals dedicated to everyone from Don Quixote to Simon Bolivar.  We also had an incredible 4-course lunch at a vegetarian restaurant (all for $1 each).      The ride to the border was scenic but increasingly hot as we drove toward sea level.  Macar� (Ecuador) is a typical unfriendly border town with mosquitos adding to the hostility.      We finally arrived in Piura, Peru, and checked into the Hotel California, such a lovely place, for the night. Hotel -$7, Food -$9, Trans. -$15, Random, internet -$2     Total -$33

Day 133      We took in all the sights of Piura in just a few hours.  We then bused three hours south to Chiclayo.  Both Piura and Chiclayo are oases surrounded by the Sechura desert.  The ride through the desert was interesting because of its emptiness.  We were also impressed by the occasional ranchers trying to exe out an existense in the shifting sands.      Like Piura, Chiclayo is friendly and becomes electric at night as stores stay open late and the streets are crowded with people.  We walked around just trying to blend in (judging by the stares, quite unsuccessfully).  We found most people to be preoccupied with the current political situation.  There is the threat of a coup d�tat. Hotel -$8, Food -$9, trans. -$6, Tour -$1, Random, internet -$1     Total -$25