Avenue of Volcanoes

The last week has been a good week of travelling around Ecuador, and also some partying in the city due to the ¨Quito day¨ (which means festivities all week, not just one day).

I headed to a free concert on Saturday last weekend that I read about in the paper. Getting to the queue at the park entrance I realised this would not be the normal pop concert in the park - this was the alternative Death Metal scene of Quito I think... and I didn´t wear my black t-shirt :( I went in anyway since I had climbed all those stairs to the park and it was pretty entertaining for an hour (the first band you can see pictures of). Later in the evening I went to another park for another band, this time together with Michelle, Peter and Joe. More relaxing music style there.

Monday - Tuesday I headed out with Joe and Marilyn (from N.Y. but living in Miami) to Baeza for a small hike and the Papillacta hot springs. Unfortunately for Marilyn she had twisted her ancle that morning at the hotel so the hike (and remaining time) didn´t turn out that pleasant for her.

Tuesday I was back in time for the CHIVA party organised by the SAE club. You head around a bus with drinks for 2 hours, while the band is playing on top of the bus. We didn´t go into the Old town as they had mentioned and the band was too cold I think to play most of the time.... but fun to have done it anyway.

Then we were a group of 6 people joining Joe (his company is OLA Adventures, if you ever head out this way) on the ¨Quilitoa loop¨. This you can try to organise on your own as well but it would be a bit of a nightmare with all the different buses you have to catch from small villages. We got 3 days of flexible travel, lots of photo opportunities (we were SOOOOOO lucky with the blue sky the day we drove out !!!!! Both going to Baños the other week and on the trip back now we couldn´t see Cotopaxi for the clouds.), hiking and of course heading to the crater lake at Quilitoa. I got a bad stomach the last day and was struggling hard the 45 minute hike up from the crater (only 400 m !!!) as I had very little energy. I hope I´m not going to feel poorly for the Inka trail !

Most of the travellers I have come across have, just like me, left their jobs and are now travelling for anything from a few months to 1.5 years. It has been great to have Quito as a base with the opportunity to get to know some people to do trips with. Most likely I am going to the cost over Christmas with Mel and Catherine, but before that I have a Galapagos tour booked for a week as well as the jungle for the week after. Heading out on the 7.30 flight tomorrow (hopefully) but first we will celebrate Mel´s birthday this evening :)))

Will see if I have the possibility to update the blog after Galapagos, otherwise there will be at least a 2 week silence from me.... (Uploading more pictures on Facebook now as well.)

Take care and I hope you are not too cold wherever you are ! This is December after all....

Marie

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