21/2/2013 Otón to Quito
D52, T4, 5, Av13.64, Max75, Tot11534, 1314
Perfect day, a little warm near Rio Guayllabamba
We both slept well and woke up early to a brilliant day, the valley below had a long cigar shaped cloud stretching its length, this only added to the surreal vista we had at our tent doors.
Having scrambled eggs and omelettes, we enjoyed the early morning sun. Packing was a leisurely affair, getting on the road at about 0830. Thanking the owner before leaving.
We had a huge downhill run to the Rio Guayllabamda. Both of us knew we were in a big hole and had to climb out. Significant speeds were attained during the descent, the asphalt was ever so smooth.
Sure enough, it all began immediately after we crossed the bridge. The road was brand new, though that did not make things any easier. They were duplicating the upper half, obviously to cater from traffic to the new airport.
I ran out of water half way up and had to get some off the construction workers, who gladly obliged.
Stopping at the huge toll way on the way up, we rested and bought things to eat. A bottle of Coke in a glass bottle was 50c, the cheapest for a long while.
Continuing on we had 4km to go till the summit.
Reaching there, it was an urban haul to downtown Quito. Traffic was heavy. Without emission controls here, the diesel fumes were out of this world. They actually made breathing difficult. The local buses were the worst offenders. Not to mention the fact that all the low level exhausts blew their discharge to the side of the road, right at us.
Devin had a Couch Surfing host arranged south of the centre. We parted company hoping we would catch up in the next day or two.
I had met a guy at the Ecuadorian Migration who said come and crash at his place. They had backpackers there all the time.
So my lodgings took me to the city centre near Hospital Militar.
On arrival I spoke on the phone to the girl Adriana, all was good, her flat mates let me in.
It was a classic student flat. A real organised mess, dirty dishes, musical instruments scattered, walls adorned with all manner of posters, maps, photos and everything else imaginable. The small deck had some plants that usually end up in smoke growing well. The mandatory cats were also hanging.
My bed for the night was a mattress on the floor .
Javier arrived home from work, he was the guy I met at migration, such a nice guy and super talented on the guitar with a great voice.
He played for a few hours while the girls and I sung the lyrics, which were on a huge computer screen at www.acordes.lecuerdo.net. They were great Latino songs, it was good Spanish practise.
I grabbed a few beers from the local tienda. It was a fun night.
Anyway hitting the nest at about 1100, sometime later the next wave of people arrived, I was asleep, waking, all I could hear was lighters flicking, laughing and sucking noises.
Finally everyone hit the nest. I actually had a really good sleep.
In the morning another young American couple arriving. Off course being first up I got organised after a coffee to head to a motel.
It was a hard case, about six of us slept on the floor in the lounge. By 0800 everyone was awake and the pipes were out. It was amusing.
It was one of the girls birthdays today. They were having a big party.
It was not a place to leave all my belongings for the night.
They were a great bunch of people. The song today is one they all like. It’s not bad, heaps of energy.
By Shaka Ponk, "Lets Bang"
D52, T4, 5, Av13.64, Max75, Tot11534, 1314
Perfect day, a little warm near Rio Guayllabamba
We both slept well and woke up early to a brilliant day, the valley below had a long cigar shaped cloud stretching its length, this only added to the surreal vista we had at our tent doors.
Having scrambled eggs and omelettes, we enjoyed the early morning sun. Packing was a leisurely affair, getting on the road at about 0830. Thanking the owner before leaving.
We had a huge downhill run to the Rio Guayllabamda. Both of us knew we were in a big hole and had to climb out. Significant speeds were attained during the descent, the asphalt was ever so smooth.
Sure enough, it all began immediately after we crossed the bridge. The road was brand new, though that did not make things any easier. They were duplicating the upper half, obviously to cater from traffic to the new airport.
I ran out of water half way up and had to get some off the construction workers, who gladly obliged.
Stopping at the huge toll way on the way up, we rested and bought things to eat. A bottle of Coke in a glass bottle was 50c, the cheapest for a long while.
Continuing on we had 4km to go till the summit.
Reaching there, it was an urban haul to downtown Quito. Traffic was heavy. Without emission controls here, the diesel fumes were out of this world. They actually made breathing difficult. The local buses were the worst offenders. Not to mention the fact that all the low level exhausts blew their discharge to the side of the road, right at us.
Devin had a Couch Surfing host arranged south of the centre. We parted company hoping we would catch up in the next day or two.
I had met a guy at the Ecuadorian Migration who said come and crash at his place. They had backpackers there all the time.
So my lodgings took me to the city centre near Hospital Militar.
On arrival I spoke on the phone to the girl Adriana, all was good, her flat mates let me in.
It was a classic student flat. A real organised mess, dirty dishes, musical instruments scattered, walls adorned with all manner of posters, maps, photos and everything else imaginable. The small deck had some plants that usually end up in smoke growing well. The mandatory cats were also hanging.
My bed for the night was a mattress on the floor .
Javier arrived home from work, he was the guy I met at migration, such a nice guy and super talented on the guitar with a great voice.
He played for a few hours while the girls and I sung the lyrics, which were on a huge computer screen at www.acordes.lecuerdo.net. They were great Latino songs, it was good Spanish practise.
I grabbed a few beers from the local tienda. It was a fun night.
Anyway hitting the nest at about 1100, sometime later the next wave of people arrived, I was asleep, waking, all I could hear was lighters flicking, laughing and sucking noises.
Finally everyone hit the nest. I actually had a really good sleep.
In the morning another young American couple arriving. Off course being first up I got organised after a coffee to head to a motel.
It was a hard case, about six of us slept on the floor in the lounge. By 0800 everyone was awake and the pipes were out. It was amusing.
It was one of the girls birthdays today. They were having a big party.
It was not a place to leave all my belongings for the night.
They were a great bunch of people. The song today is one they all like. It’s not bad, heaps of energy.
By Shaka Ponk, "Lets Bang"
All houses no trees, very middle eastern in appearance, suburban Sth Quito.
Nearing the top.
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Flower farms with lights to extend the daylight hours to promote flowering.
At the bottom of the climb to Quito, typical dry, dusty terrain.
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