Mountains and Markets

Pictures: https://picasaweb.google.com/109164353544358903729/Ecuador

Once again, this week has been all about the mountains. To start it out, a friend took me up a mountain, first driving up a deserted dirt path, and then on foot, to some of the most amazing views around. The best part was that it was completely deserted, it was one of those places that only some of the locals know about. Another day I hiked up Rucu Pichincha (4,698m/15,400ft), an active volcano in Quito, which turned out to be an easier hike than I thought. Though the last part involved some rock climbing, for the most part it was just a very slow trudge uphill in the surprisingly strong wind. Had it been clear from the top, I would have been able to see all of the mountains surrounding Quito. Sadly though, that was not the case, so I have very few pictures from that hike. I also took a very lazy day in Quito and relaxed in the "living room" of the hostel, watching Friends and hanging out with the crazy people there. I then left for Otavalo, a small village known for its huge traditional market. I had been in Quito (and the surrounding area) for almost three weeks, and it had already started to feel like home. I knew some people and places there, and even had some routines (like where to buy the cheapest food or which internet cafe I used), so going to Otavalo was almost like starting a new trip, because once again, I was somewhere completely new. 

Otavalo is much more my kind of town. It is small and traditional (most people here are dressed traditionally), and once you leave the center of town, you find yourself wandering amongst cows, chickens, and sheep instead of cars. Speaking of wandering, my first day here I set off to explore the city, and ended up on an all day adventure. I started by just going up one of the hills around the town, and from there I  continued going up on the dirt roads, through small farms and little villages, until I ended up at the base of one of the mountains and a lake. I had no idea where I was headed (I was not lost, I purposely was unsure where I was, and contrary to popular belief, I do know how to read a map), but I ended up passing through an amazing area. It was nice to have a day alone just to wander (this was the first time I had been alone since starting this trip, though now after almost a week completely alone I'm ready for people again), and I encountered many friendly locals along the way (I have a feeling not many tourists wander through those villages). A small boy called out to me, "good morning teacher, and how are you today?" before bursting into giggles and waving to me as I walked by. I much prefer this scene to the endless bars and clubs that surrounded me in Quito.

On Saturday, I haggled my way through the enormous market, and if I didn't have to carry everything I buy with me for the next year, I probably would have bought just about everything. There is no way to describe how big the market is, every street is filled with people selling jewelry, food, alpaca sweaters, chickens, and everything in between. The whole town turns into one giant market, no wonder it is considered the best one in South America!

On Sunday I left (with a guide) at 5h in order to climb Imbabura (4,630m/15,190 ft). The first few hours were a slow trudge up a pretty steep path, while the last few were spent first scrambling over boulders, then rock climbing in order to reach the summit. There were even sections on the way up that were so windy I couldn't walk in a straight line. We were lucky, and had an amazing view from the top, for once we were not in the clouds. Then we began the hike down, which I hated. I was tired and ready to be done, but instead I had to keep walking in the very hot sun. Parts were even so steep going down that we had to butt slide (in the tall grass), and I ended up wearing a hole right through my leggings. Finally we made it back to the car, and after an amazing shower, I crawled in bed and passed out before even having dinner.

There is another mountain in this area I had hoped to climb, but seeing as I am traveling solo, and you always need at least two people for a trip, it makes it awfully hard for me to get the trips I want. And plus now I have now booked a guide for climbing Cotopaxi on the 6th, so I have to head back to Quito for another night. I hope the weather and route holds up (they had to find a new one last week as the old one collapsed) as that is a big contribution to the 50 percent success rate on that mountain. Oh, and of course the small detail of altitude... 


Oh right, and I have now officially stood on the equator. It's one of those stupid things that you just kinda have to do, and since it was on my bucket list, I really had no choice.