Well, here they come! Finally. The blogs I’d promised devoted to the really great hotels we’d found along the Avenue of the Volcanoes. I know. Once again, I’d gotten way-laid. We’ve just been having too much fun with our friends visiting from Costa Rica. So sorry!
Anyway, as we traveled up the central valley from Alausi and the Devil’s Nose Train, we figured we’d head up to Riobamba and stay there for the night. I’d already consulted TripAdvisor, and had booked the Hosteria (hotel) “La Andaluza” based on its recommendations. Besides, I’d lived in Spain in the early 90’s and had been to the region of Andaluza. The dark woods and rich, country-regal style of old-world Spain featured in the hotel's photos brought back lovely nostalgic memories.
It also just so happened that friends were traveling a few days ahead of us, and had shot us an email to say they’d found an awesome place to stay. Coincidentally, it was The Andaluza. Now we knew we’d be fine. Turns out they weren’t wrong about their description of Riobamba as a "trash pit", either. Not a pretty city at all. But as soon as you go through to the other side, the majestic Chimborazo Volcano looms to the left, and the hotel is right on the Pan American Highway on the right. Wild.
Now you’d think that any hotel on the highway is one to avoid. Yet the minute you drive down into its driveway with its tiffany-style lanterns and covered bridge walkway, all the noise magically disappears. You stand facing a complex of several lovely buildings, one marked grandly with a stunning wooden carving of an Indigenous woman. We felt like kids ~ excited to be treating ourselves to such a charming hotel. Dragging our suitcases over the bridge, we marveled at the colorful hanging flower baskets along the way, ultimately punctuated by thriving gardens, replete with white clawed bathtubs. 
We found the office to the right and stepped back in time. Antiques were everywhere. Furniture, clocks, elegant pieces ~ they all welcomed visitors. But then we got our keys and went down the long hallways, and got our breath knocked away. We passed antique sewing machines, Victorolas, and special rooms for reading and playing games. It was easy to sense that this was a hotel decorated and designed to please its guests. 
And then we walked into the room. Rose petals strewn over the beds. Chocolates on the pillows. A fresh fruit plate at the table for two. A desk and a large screen TV. Giggling, we opened the curtains a bit more to see outside. The room overlooked a courtyard gardens, a riding ring, and another building that turned out to be an event hall.
Lovely.
We spent the evening cozily by the fireplaces in the bar and restaurant. The next morning they had a great breakfast buffet (included in the price), to get us on our way. Without a doubt, we knew we’d back on the return trip. And that we were.
That day we moved on northward to Baños, where we went to the Casa Amarilla, which I’ll talk about next. Stay tuned!
TRAVEL FACTS:
La Andaluza Hosteria Panamericana Norte Km. 16 via a Ambato, Riobamba, Ecuador
7 Suites, 13 Superior rooms, 35 standard rooms
Recommendation: We really enjoyed the rooms to the right as you go down the hall. On our second stay we were graciously upgraded to a larger suite on the left, but it was situated where you definitely could hear highway traffic. At our request, the staff happily switched us back to the room we’d had originally. Awesome!
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