Due to the fact that maria will have to fly sooner home for her new education as a dentist technican we have to hurry now. So we took a bus to the border to Equador. It alltogeather was a trip of 14 hours and we arrived at close before 12pm at Ipiales.
We had to change the bus in Cali and were happy we get a quick access to the next bus. Our Columbian friends were very serious to tell us not to stay in Cali at all and we believed it!!! Unfortunately just a seatrow in front of us were some guys who were nightclubbing and even dayclubbing. One of them was throwing up 3 times during the trip and they did not care to continue drinking. Of course every trash was recycled out of the window. It was an experience for sure and we were happy to change the seats a couple of ours later (just before the sick guy throw up on this cloth). However it is not representitive for the columbians, we just want to let you know this story so you don't think we only have fun!
We arrived in Ipiales on the boarder very late, so we slept in a hotel with a girl from Corea. On the next morning we walked over the boarder an got our visas. In the first town of Ecuador we took a bus straight to Quito. It took us 5 hours to reach Quito. Alex found a really nice hostel ( Secret Garden ) in the center of Quito. The hostel has a very nice terrace with a wonderfull few over Quito. They have a bonfire every night an good food also for vegetarians. We met Farancisco again ( we met him on the Vulcano trip in Columbia ) and went together to the equatorline. It is very touristi but if you are in Quito you have to go there so we made some nice pictures there. On the way to the equatorline we hade a very nice conversation with the taxi driver and he told us about the importend foodball game today Ecuador vs Bolivia. This morning we bought tickets and we will go togethere with the taxi driver to the game in the afternoon.
Unfortunately we gave the taxidriver his ticket before the match and he did not show up for picking us up. So we went alone to the match an had a great time. Maria the hooligan was very experienced and the dutch part as well but for me it was the first time at a real soccer match. It was total different from European fotball matches. The service was superbe, vendors brought hotdocks, soups, empanadas and all kind of food and also bear was brought to the seatplace. We had tickets for 10 dollars each (5 is for everybody) so it was 2nd class and we really felt save because a lot of police was there and no Hooligans.
However the sold little fireworks in the stadium which we found strange.
Equador won 1:0 over Boliva so after the game everybody was happy!
Today we will head to the south to climb Cotopaxi a volcano of 5800 meteres and to escape the city.
We arrived there and had a bit of a hassle to find a hotel (walked 3 km to get told the hostel is full). But we finally found a room in the only other option in this area. A very nice "almstyle" house. And an arrangement for climbing at least a bit of this famous volcano was also made very quick (20 $ per person to get driven to parkinglot about 4800m up the volcano and back (oneway about 20-30km). To climb this snowcaped monster you have to aclimitize and spend at least 2-3 days and 140 $.
We stolled through the village (if we can call it that it is more a collection of "farmhouses"). And we quickly found new friends, the kids are still unspoiled and it was fun (no moneybegging, give me ballpen ....). And I even found a "fish and chips" place. The local woman prepared some papas and a local sweetwaterfish and I had a plate for only one Dollar! Great bargain and after 24 hours I¡m still fine!
The night at our hostel/hotel/almhuette was really cold so Maria stayed really close all night (2800m)! The nature in the Cotopaxi Nationalpark is dry, like a sierra with minimal bushes and little trees. We stopped by a lake (they called it Lagoon) and even saw wild hourses around the plain. From the parkingplace it took us 1:45 hours to reach the Glacier at about 5000m where it is not advisable to go further without iceclimbing equipment. It snowed a bit at the top and we quickly run down the hill.
We then cought a bus and drove straight to Banos (which means bathroom). It is located about 80km more south from Cotopaxi. (Laso) and is well know for it's hot springs and scenery. For sure there is a Volcano nearby and we could see the results of the eruption of 199? (dont know the exact year). The road still needs a fix and the rocks are looking very loose so we will not stay here too long. If it's rains here hardly I'm sure we are trapped and we don't want to miss our flight to Buenos Aires on the 27th.
Bye more soon!
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