i've been to many beautiful places in south america that sometimes it's harder to get excited when i go to new towns. this was not the case when i arrived in vilcabamba - and i'd like to think this picture explains why. i was staying in a luxurious hostel which boasted a pool, spa and a restaurant with this view for a handful of dollars a night. but in addition to the scenery, there was a really nice vibe to the people and place. for example i asked the receptionist if it rained much in the afternoon, having experienced strong downpours in loja and cuenca. her reply epitomised the positivity of the place when she said yes, and that's the reason why it's so green and beautiful here. in fact vilcabamba is referred to as the valley of longevity and people supposedly live longer here than anywhere else. whilst those claims probably wouldn't hold up to scientific scrutiny, i think it still says what you need to know about the stress-free lifestyle that exists.

here's the original

i've been to many beautiful places in south america that sometimes it's harder to get excited when i go to new towns. this was not the case when i arrived in vilcabamba - and i'd like to think this picture explains why. i was staying in a luxurious hostel which boasted a pool, spa and a restaurant with this view for a handful of dollars a night. but in addition to the scenery, there was a really nice vibe to the people and place. for example i asked the receptionist if it rained much in the afternoon, having experienced strong downpours in loja and cuenca. her reply epitomised the positivity of the place when she said yes, and that's the reason why it's so green and beautiful here. in fact vilcabamba is referred to as the valley of longevity and people supposedly live longer here than anywhere else. whilst those claims probably wouldn't hold up to scientific scrutiny, i think it still says what you need to know about the stress-free lifestyle that exists.

here's the original