Gualaceo is a town with an incredible high rate of out migration (mainly to the US). It is called the Azuay´s garden (el jardín azuayo). Still working on that, but one of the parish (this is the smallest administrative division in Ecuador) in this canton could be my home for 6 months next year.
Chordeleg is a even smalled village than Gualaceo. It is well-know for its jewelery. As most of the Ecuadorian villages (a Spanish legacy) are located around a usually very nice square and a colourful church. However, contrary to Spain, houses are well spread, so even a village has very few inhabitants, the village owns quite a lot of space.
The last village of the day is Sigsig. Very quiet, and people still look at foreigners as aliens from a different country! Nonetheless, I must say in spite of their puzzlement they are extremely polite, saying us good morning whenever they see us.
In all the three villages, the effects of migration are easily noticeable. There are houses completely out of place, next to an old small rural house, stands a Miami-like house with dark glass in the windows. There are also all sorts of kinky stationery for graduations, birthdays... a new 'tradition' very likely to come from the US.
