We Nearly Climb a Volcano and Other Adventures
Trip Start
Sep 25, 2007
1
31
35
Trip End
May 29, 2008
Quito,
Quito,
Ecuador
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
We visited the ecuator on our first day, which is an hour north of town. It really is a testimony to just how much hype and interest you can create out of absolutely nothing - there are museums and a huge monument, although it´s apparently about 150m out - like anyone would know, though. On the way back, Nick fulfilled one of his major ambitions for the trip, which was to ride in an articulated bus (one that bends in the middle). Next we explored the old town, full of monastries and cathedrals dating back to 1500 and before. There are some amazing collections of religious art, and I must say it was pretty lively compared with what I studied at school - huge pictures of Christ flagellating himself and cherubs picking at the flesh, devils torturing naked wailing people in the fires of pergatory, and sheep queing up to drink the blood of christ's wounds
We get excited about a hummingbird
. There's one church here that they reputedly used 7 tonnes of gold for the gold leaf that adorns it. A guide also cheerily took us to the top of the belltower at Santa Catalina Monastery, and when we got out the camera she said - you want pictures? climb out onto the roof! Only about 6 stories up with a plank laid across the worst of the A-frame. Public liability - pish! She managed remarkably adeptly in her heels, but we declined the opportunity.Next we nearly climbed Volcano Pichincha. Quito is at 2800m, and we took a gondola to the foothills at the base of the volcano, which is 4100m. We then walked for a bit over 2.5hrs until we were pretty close to the summit, 4700m. Then it all turned to custard, because sections of the trail had slipped away (it's Quito's rainiest month now), and it started looking rather dangerous. At that point we also started feeling a bit light headed from the altitude - apparently 48 hours wasn't enough time to acclimatise before going that high. So we took some pictures and turned back with most of the other hikers that day. Summit's are overrated anyway.
We spent a day in the bustling craft markets - Quito is a major centre for woven goods, and loads of producers come in from the surrounding area on the weekend. Incidentally, you're all getting big woolly ponchos with bold indigenous patterns on them when we get back.
The next day we met Matt from Parque Ambue Ari (the park with the cats) for lunch, and watched a swarm of riot police turn up in the Plaza. We learnt the next day we the president of Argentina made a visit to Government House just after we left.
We just arrived in Baños, about 4 hours to the south of Quito, for a few days to enjoy the hot pools, and maybe to do a little biking beneath the active volcano here
Nicholas straddles 2 hemispheres
.It has come to our attention that some readers are interested in themselves paying a visit to Latin America. For them, here is a pithy guide to Spanish on the road:
1) [Basics] Sí - Yes, No - No, Por favor - please, Gracias - Thank you
2) [Essentials] Donde esta el baño - Where´s the loo?
3) [What´s going on?] Que - what, donde - where, quando - when, como - how, quien - who, porque - why, quanto - how much, quantos - how many ... {if in any doubt, use liberally}
4) [Shopping 1] ¿Donde puedo comprar _______ (pan, laxantes, agua, ponchos, etc)? - Where can I buy [](bread, laxatives, water, ponchos, etc)?
5) [Shopping 2] ¿Quanto cuesta? - how much does it cost?
[Supplimental: in the market] ¿Esta su mejor precio? ¡Es muy carro! - Is that your best price? It´s very expensive!
6) [Navigation 1] Necesito ir desde (Quito) hasta (Baños) - I need to go from Quito to Baños.
7) [Navigation 2] ¿Quando sale? When does it leave?
8) [Accommodation 1] No, gracias. Hay muchos cocarachas en la habitacion. - No, thanks, there are many cockroaches in the room.
9) [Accommodation 2] ¿Hay agua caliente? ... a que horas? - Is there hot water? At what times?
10) [Conversation] Fútbol es un juego para niñas pequeñas - Soccer is a game for little girls.
Note - we´ve added photos to the last 2 entries.
