...sshhhh wanna hear another secret...?
Trip Start
Mar 25, 2008
1
16
54
Trip End
Nov 22, 2008
Where I stayed
The Secret Garden Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi,
Cotopaxi,
Ecuador
Monday, April 28, 2008
We left Quito for Cotopaxi to go and stay in the second Secret Garden owned by Aussie Tarquin and Ecuadorian Katherine...the place is gorgeous ...when we arrived we were in a full cloud white out so didnīt actually see the real views till 6am the next morning...and oh what a show...we are not disappointed we came here.
The cost is US$25 pn this includes all meals which are plentiful and could have us the size of houses if we didnīt move on after 3 nights!!!! the bunk house or dorm has a woodstove to heat the rooms at night which of course I took great delight in making sure it was fully loaded and the fire roaring all night long. We did everything by candlelight and the rooms glowed warm and cozy
this is where were / Secret Garden Cotopaxi
.We have a brilliant view of the 7 volcanoes we are surrounded by the largest being Cotopaxi...I really like the two Ilinzias too they were very pretty!!!
After an early morning start to see the sun rise and shine on the volcano we decided with a full brekky in our tums to go mountain bike riding and hiking...well int eh oppostie order actually we hiked up an old volcano and then when we came back after cookies and milo to warm us up we hopped on our bikes and down we went....the spin classes have now finally come in handy!!!! yay!!...I actually really like cycling this of course needed strong hands to hold the brakes on as the whole ride was down hill...there was no cars as the road is private and the trip organised thru Secret Garden for US$15...it was fun...Rberto stayed close by in the car to make sure we4 didnīt stack it or get a puncture and the only drama of the day was getting bogged ont eh driveway coming out of secret garden and tehn at the end fo the day having to walk the bikes home down the same boggy muddy LONG driveway.....by the time I got back to the hosue I was ready to throw my bike in the bush and have a tantrum....it rained on us and I have to say the last 200 metres were miserable!!! haha....but really teh whole day was sensational and after a very hot shower and a beer I was all happy again.
The second day here I had caught a cold and we were rained in so it was a day spent in bed or on the couch reading or sleeping with the fires stoked and the dogs at our feet!!!
Day three and our final day we had slightly better weather altho I was still snuffling away...we decided to go to the BIG volcano Cotopaxi and hike up to the refuge and the glacier behind it....as you can see walking up we are in chocolate coloured dirt...then it snowed and we were in a white out...it was very pretty but very cold for this beach girl....we were at 4800metres above sea level so a little higher than my old island home in Cayman which I think at highest point was 35ft above the sea.....it is hard work breathign at this altitude
Secret Garden Homestead
. I have decided mountains are nice to look at and snow is pretty too but photos are probably enough for this warm weather beach lover! Anyone want a free ticket to climb Machu Pichu..???....only joking I will take a hot water bottle..you think Iīm joking!!! NOPE Iīm not!!! brrrrrrrrrrrrrr.... Once we got to the refuge they gave us hot soup, tea and some bikkies....there was a fire in the woode stove but they didnīt have it burning nearly enough for my liking....
I decided it was my civic duty to keep the fire going better and while the others walk on up to the glacier....sorry but not my idea of fun when itīs freezing and snowing!!! ...Frey is a snow bunny and the others with us were from Jackson Hole, Wyoming so they were all over this cold snowy weather...and good luck to them for that....me I have lives to save by throwing another log on the fire....didnīt help much that with my cold I couldnīt breathe much while walking up to the refuge!! It wasnīt ņlong before everyone walking in the refuge was covered in 2 inches of snow and their gloves beanies etc wet wet wet....whilst hogging my spot next to the wood stove I kept flipping their wet glovies and beanies socks over so they wouldnīt burn...I felt important and the kids loved me when I gave them my dry gloves to put on will their dried...I had 2 pairs!!
BBQ or Pizza oven...it´s all good!
! :o)I actually really liked the walk back down in the snow and think I might be a down hill mountain climber...??..:o)...itīs challenging not falling over from going too fast you know!!!!...when we got tot he bottom I was shocked at the car park being full of families torturing their children in this weather!!!!...some where making snowmen and looked like that might be faking enjoying it!!!! What lengths children will go to please their parents!
We then had the LONG bumpy ride out of the natinal park where some of the roads were partially washed away from the continuious rain.
From here if you want lots more detail about the area I will direct you to Freyaīs blog - freyal as she has written lots more detail ...for those of you that think this much writing is enough enjoy the pics....
We arrived in Baņos late last night so there of course will be more to come on the adventures of Nene and Frey in South America...
