December 22, 2003
Quito, Ecuador

Today drove from pasto, colombia to quito.  i guess i made it through colombia alive.  so it can be done.  even driving alone in a ridiculously conspicuous vehicle.

Near the ecuadorian border is a cathedral called las lajas.  it has to be one of the most striking things i've seen on the trip.  built above a river gorge at a place in the rock canyon face where apparently a miracle was witnessed some time ago... unfortunately the miracle was seen about 250 feet above the river level, so the poor bastards had to build this cathedral, well, 250 feet above the river.  i'd say they did a pretty good job.  must have taken forever.