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12/8 and 13/8 together
12/08 South again to Quilotoa
We had a slow start before we headed south again. We tried to get a trolley bus to our destination but to say they were full would be lying, so we got a Taxi to the station instead. This was followed by a bus to Latacunga, and a bus to Quilotoa. We checked-in to a great room with a nice bed and real pillows. It had a fireplace too and dinner and breakfast included. We went back to a big common area where we picked up a cuppa and started talking with some travelers. These guys were not very talkative. I headed up to the room to light the fire, and it took extra time to light. Why? out of practice, yes maybe but there is a great deal less oxygen at 3900m!! I got it, but a few people later said its really hard.
We had dinner on a huge table, Ecuadorean vegetable soup as a starter and a typical or basic main of rice and potato (always 2 or 3 carbs), diced meet, veg and an amazing strip of fried plantain.
We headed back to a cozy room to read, plan, write and finally sleep.
13/08 Quilotoa creator loop and busses
We woke up to a cold room as the fire had gone out during the night, none of this red wood stuff. I missed the Mongolian experience where they come in twice during the night to stoke the fire for you. We packed and headed to an early healthy breakfast before the trek.
As we arrived to the creator lookout we took a photo to find we had no battery, s***, we got 4-5 in the end, enough really as we have so many already but this place was an incredible mix of colors. We asked where the trail began and got some directions along with our third time estimate. Lonely Planet predicts 5 hours to fit walkers, the hotel owner predicted 6 hours and the man we asked said 4 hours.... How long is this trail?
We headed out clicking on at our starting line at 8:03am, so lets see. We surveyed the terrain and saw two hard bits, one big edge and one other part that looked unfriendly.
As we rounded the corner we came across some 'road' workers, pushing rocks down a 400m slope/drop to where others were they were making a different path. Later on the track we came across a new wood and glass lookout, about 40 minutes around.
Next was the big hill and naturally we had to go down to the start of it, to make it more impressive. This hill taught Sarah and I a thing or two about walking at 3900m of altitude. We had forgot just how much harder it is at this altitude.
The whole walk was spectacular and hard to explain, luckily I can upload some photos. We only passed two people on the way, some young boys picking berries similar to blueberries. After a question or two I sampled a couple, not bad, great flavor but a little sour.
The rest of the time we chatted and walked, taking in the view. We arrived back into town before 12:00, just under four hours.
Hmmmm, how do we get out of here? truck or pickup to another town and then a bus we were told. We talked about the bus we came in on, I wonder when it arrives and how many times a day...
We had absolute perfect timing for busses, rewarding us for our quick lap of the creator. First we arrived to town to the bus arriving to turn around. Ten minutes later we had our bags and we were on a bus we did not think we would be able to get or if it even existed. After a half hour sitting in a small village for no known reason, we set off again. Sarah pokes me to point out another mother filling her small children up on coke (the drink not the drug). Yet again the kids go crazy to make an eventful South American bus more fun. We arrived to Latacunga, where as usual all the locals get out everywhere but the bus station. We were the only two on the bus so we spoke to the driver and he assures us the next stop is the station....,. The petrol station! We finally arrive to the bus terminal, grab a slice of pizza, pay to use a toilet and jump on another bus, this one to Quito. We were really happy to see the lady from the last bus refilling her two kids with coke. This bus was the usual stop everywhere bus with people constantly getting on and off to sell you things or tell you their sob story for money.
We arrived with mixed hope as we pulled up in the south terminal (1 hour south of Quito) and need to head north ( the northern terminal is 40 minutes north of Quito). We were very lucky and happy to hear we could get one in 10 minutes from this terminal. Otavalo, here we come today. Another bus of kids being coked up always makes for fun. At least we were making great distances.
It got darker and then all out with the lights. Sarah tried to nap hugging her bag and I had mine wedged between my feet. We were getting close to our stop which made me happy as the guy behind me kept kicking me under the seat, by accident I'm sure. I turned around a few times and kicked his feet a few times. We arrived and got off the bus, grabbed our big bags and tried to workout where we were. Naturally we were not at the terminal, why would a bus stop there. As we got the book out I realized something, i wasn't being kicked. Some crafty little s*** had got a knife and cut a hole through my bag, and through the soft protective case around the big DSLR camera. luckily nothing was stolen. My bag was packed so tight it would have made a theft difficult and luckily for us we got off then as it wasn't a popular stop. I'm sure they thought after it went dark they would have more time.
We walked looking for a hostel, hostel one had too many kids running riot, hostel two was too expensive but hostel three was just right, so we slept there, hehe. We got talking to a another couple and they told us of a scam where people help you, relax you and steal your bag from off the floor or break into it...... And come to think of it someone was helpful with our seats, b******s!
P.S. We are now in the northern hemisphere again, the first time since Cuba.
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