Ecuador is known for very high elevations and you literally ride through the clouds, even above them. A dear friend once told us this story about how he'd totaled his bike by hitting a donkey in central America and rode it back to the states. I know believe how easy that feat might be. White horses and cloud forest.
It's not just the free ranging big animals...expect anything from turkeys to dogs. Lots and lots of dogs. In fact, next time I am thinking about a "Dogs of Ecuador" picture book. I am afraid there just isn't that much time in a life to take take many pics.
The livestock had incredible street smarts though. I didn't see a single carcass until day 4 when we were on the Pan American Highway. And somehow this wayward ass wanted us to wait for him to cross this one lane bridge first. No reason for him to take the water option
Some folks however had different commutes. I will never mind my commute again, at least it's not a foot trail up a steep hill.
I can't even muster a trip to Safeway to buy food, and yet they cultivate unbelievably steep terrain here by hand.
Sugar cane