Photos: http://picasaweb.google.es/marc.buergi/QuitoMachachiCotopaxi#
We spent some more days in Quito, taking walks through the old city, watching a heartbreaking movie at the theatre which we really recommend (PS I love you) and relaxed in the hot thermes of Papallacta which is located in a volcanic crater two hours from Quito.
During our stay in Quito we used to meet Lucia, who is living and working there, several times. We also spent our last night in the capital together with her at a Swiss Restaurant having Fondue and Chilenian Sauvignon blanco – muchas gracias por su amistad, Lucia!
The last days we spent in the Hosteria Papagayo which is an ancient Hacienda (Farm) near the Cotopaxi National Park with a lot of animals (Horses, Lamas, Cows, Sheeps, Dogs and Chicken) and with a Jacuzzi. It was a wonderful fact that we could drink from the taps for the water was purified in the hole Hosteria.
Friday we went on a horseback ride. Esther who was riding a horse for the first time used to have a democratic leadership style. Horse and rider were allowed to chose pace and direction in swapping terms. Marc who was a bit more experienced with horses fully enjoyed the trip and galloped at the end of the trip to be first at the Hosteria. Afterwards we relaxed our muscles and especially the hurting backs in the Jacuzzi.
After a day of rest on Sunday we went to hike the Cotopaxi which is the highest activ volcano in Ecuador. With a minibus we drove up to 4’500 meters above sea level. From there we walked up to the Refugio at 4’800 meters and then further up to the beginning of the glacier at 5’000 meters above sea level. At this altitude every step is breathtaking but with small and steady steps we reached our destination of the day. While descending Marc was cruising down over snow, ash and boulders like on skiers. For Esther it took a little longer but when she reached the ash she got really fast as well.
Afterwards we were riding mountainbikes down the volcano. The very brave like Marc took the steep downhill ride to the Lago Limpopungo and the more relaxed drivers like Esther took over the bikes from thee and drove the more decent way towards the park exit.
Actually we are still sitting in the hostal, with our backpacks ready, waiting for the weather to turn from nasty to somewhat less nasty (for it is raining cats and dogs!). Our next goal is to reach Latacunga today and then to do the Quilotoa Loop to Chugchilan.
Esther & Marc
We spent some more days in Quito, taking walks through the old city, watching a heartbreaking movie at the theatre which we really recommend (PS I love you) and relaxed in the hot thermes of Papallacta which is located in a volcanic crater two hours from Quito.
During our stay in Quito we used to meet Lucia, who is living and working there, several times. We also spent our last night in the capital together with her at a Swiss Restaurant having Fondue and Chilenian Sauvignon blanco – muchas gracias por su amistad, Lucia!
The last days we spent in the Hosteria Papagayo which is an ancient Hacienda (Farm) near the Cotopaxi National Park with a lot of animals (Horses, Lamas, Cows, Sheeps, Dogs and Chicken) and with a Jacuzzi. It was a wonderful fact that we could drink from the taps for the water was purified in the hole Hosteria.
Friday we went on a horseback ride. Esther who was riding a horse for the first time used to have a democratic leadership style. Horse and rider were allowed to chose pace and direction in swapping terms. Marc who was a bit more experienced with horses fully enjoyed the trip and galloped at the end of the trip to be first at the Hosteria. Afterwards we relaxed our muscles and especially the hurting backs in the Jacuzzi.
After a day of rest on Sunday we went to hike the Cotopaxi which is the highest activ volcano in Ecuador. With a minibus we drove up to 4’500 meters above sea level. From there we walked up to the Refugio at 4’800 meters and then further up to the beginning of the glacier at 5’000 meters above sea level. At this altitude every step is breathtaking but with small and steady steps we reached our destination of the day. While descending Marc was cruising down over snow, ash and boulders like on skiers. For Esther it took a little longer but when she reached the ash she got really fast as well.
Afterwards we were riding mountainbikes down the volcano. The very brave like Marc took the steep downhill ride to the Lago Limpopungo and the more relaxed drivers like Esther took over the bikes from thee and drove the more decent way towards the park exit.
Actually we are still sitting in the hostal, with our backpacks ready, waiting for the weather to turn from nasty to somewhat less nasty (for it is raining cats and dogs!). Our next goal is to reach Latacunga today and then to do the Quilotoa Loop to Chugchilan.
Esther & Marc
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