Laguna Quilotoa Local Customs

A lot of travelers get romantic notions about what should remain the same in cultures not their own. I am certainly guilty of it myself but it's not right to expect indigenous people to live without the creature comforts that we enjoy. Sure, at one time locals traveled solely on foot or perhaps on horseback but times are changing and whether that is for the better or worse is a matter of conjecture. While I am not against progress I do find the encroachment of sport utility vehicles and huge trucks a bit disconcerting when in any mountain area and in an ancient one like the Andes it seems incongruous. That said, it does present a fantastic visual jumble at times. This photo illustrates how modern western influences exist side by side with old traditional ones. It's one of my favorites from the Andes and does show not only a glimpse of where things are going but also where they came from.