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Published: November 24th 2007
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Ecuador adventue:
Bridge swinging ! Here we go... I think it is official: of all the places I have been in the world Ecuador tops the list of my favourites (and I haven´t even been to the jungle or the Galapagos yet...) !!! This is such a beatiful and diverse country.
This week I was supposed to go to the jungle with my Spanish school, but since the other student cancelled the trip I couldn´t go (minimum 2 students). But I´m happy it didn´t because instead I went to Baños on Sunday with Mel, Michelle & Peter (which I met in the SAE-club my first days in Quito). It was a 4 hour bus journey which was interesting on its own (people jumping on in different little villages selling things on the bus). Luckally the DVD shown gave up in the middle of the movie (very loud and it didn´t really fit in with the view out of the window) and we could listen to some music instead.
After arrival we went to the outdoor hot springs and enjoyed a VERY hot bath for an hour. What a way to relax after a bus ride ! On Monday Mel & I hiked up one of the mountain
sides in Baños while it was still raining a bit and after 3 hours we reached the Tungurahua volcano look out point. We were determined to see it better, so we staid up there for 2 hours until the weather cleared up and it turned out to be a fantastic view. This volcano is active again (this would be the reason why some health insurances doesn´t cover this area....), and we saw grey plumes while we were there. The hike down was quicker and then into the hot springs again before going for dinner.
Tuesday we rented mountain bikes and it was a truly spectacular day as well. You head out east of Baños and see different waterfalls along the way, go in ¨cable cars¨ over the ravines and do some hikes. Along the way there is a stop at two bridges and some guys had stopped to watch the locals show them the bungy jumping and bridge swinging you could do from there. I got really, really tempted (as I saw the guy doing the swing so easily) and Mel could see I was considering it. As she had done it before she said ¨If I go first,
you go after me¨. So there we were, getting the harnests on and swinging off a bridge for 10 dollars (hmmm, also not covered by insurance I think 😊. Michelle joined too, and after 3 girls had done it the guys waiting had to do it too of course... What a fantastic feeling (but I still wouldn´t do a bungy jump - I would do the swing again though !)
The last call on the mountain bike hike was the ¨Devils waterfall¨. I was thinking it wouldn´t be much different to all the others, but when we got down there I realised why it was named the way it was. Amazing power ! Luckally after this trip you don´t have to bike wall the way up to Baños again - you just pay a truckdriver and they drive you back (what was a day trip took only 20 minutes back by car).
Back in Quito on Wednesday Patrik (friend from NL who flew in from Lima) had already arrived. He had heard we could still get tickets to the Ecuador - Peru football game so we headed straight to the stadium and got ourselves tickets for 15 dollars
each (and a t-shirt for 4 😊)) We were very, very lucky when we went inside as people had managed to get in without tickets and the stadium was getting full. I was the very last person they squeezed through the door before the looked them (helped to be blond ?). People were banging from the outside to get in (they had tickets !) but I think they were only let in at second half further down the side. Ecuador won 5-1 so a fun game to watch (but they were already out of the World Cup 2010 qualifying...). Patrik headed back to Lima today, and I´m taking it easy tonight (got too many of those 1 dollar cocktails yesterday, hi hi).
Guess I should tell about last week as well. The week in Spanish school went well, am using my Spanish as much as possible now (but still have to learn more words). My teacher took me to the local market one day where they had all kinds of interesting food (see pictures). Also met Julie (from UK) and Carol (from the States) as school. We went to a folklore dance performance on Thursday night (turns out
my spanish teacher used to dance for them for years when she was younger). After the performance I was at home doing my homework sitting in bed, when the bed started shaking a bit. Was thinking of the earthquake in S.F. but thought that possibly the hotels washing machine was located next door ?????! But sure enough, next day I read there was a 6.5 earthquake in South of Ecuador which could be felt in Quito. My second earthquake in my life - all in 1 month (hope it doesn´t continue like this) !!!
Saturday last week I joined Julie and Carol to take a private driver up to touristic Mitad del Mundo - the ecuator (the reason this country has its name of course). The driver only spoke Spanish and she was a carachter for sure... She made a great day out of it though, driving us through Quito, up to the ecuator, passing the Pululauha crator so we could take some pictures and ending the day at the Chrystal Palace overlooking the city. It was a gorgeous afternoon.
Well, there was a lot to tell this time. Hope to have nice stories about the next
coming period as well (Spanish lessons next week, trip to Quilotoa lake 5-7, Galapagos 9-16 Dec). I am so enjoying the good weather here when I hear it is bad back in Amsterdam !!! I´m thinking of you all.
Lots of hugs
Marie
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Cecilia
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Hey, a lot happening over there! : ) I´m just watching Michael Palin´s BBC serie from the Himalayas - and added with your updates, my "explorer"-nerve sure is twitching! And you know, as the big sister I am ; ), I´m saying: Take care! (The "Have fun!"-part being so obvious!) Big hug! Cecilia