Puerto Lopez

15.06.11.

Today was really special. To start with, we've reached the pacific coast. Travelling has gotten more expensive since I'm with Marie. To start with, she's not well equiped to sleep outdoors, and sicne she got a part of her things stollen along with her sleeping bag, we've spent most of our nights in hostels. However, I chose to spend a major amount of money today to visit "La Isla de la Plata" (30 USD) that was on Marie's itinerary... the place is nicknamed "the poor man's Gualapagos".... was absolutely worth every penny.



Puerto Lopez, main street



Fishermen starting the day.



The stuff they come back with... you may notice that the three at the bottom of the picture are in fact sharks... We went snorkeling all the same!



The strange creatures you find on the island:

- patos azules, called "boobies in english" ...no its truye!


- Tourists:


- Baby boobies


- More boobies


- yup I was there too-



- someones fishtank contenmts:


- But what made the day special

.....

, ... was our encoungter ....



with these guys, who seemed straight out of the discovery channel....








(click on pics to enlarge)



I was told they were observable on the coasts of PEru as well.. hopefully, I'll be able to take mum and dad there. It felt like being in a dream. Dad will just have to put up with sea sickness!

Quito: met up with MArie

04.06.11

Met up with Marie in Quito, a french girl I met while travelling south of Colombia. We decided to travel together for a while.

Chimborazo

10.06.11

As if the walk around the lake haden't killed me enough,m we went for another. This time, we chose to climb up the Chimborazo. 6500 meters above sea level, but also - considerring its location close to the equator - the furthest spot on earth from it scenter. Lack of air, the cold, high altitude... extreme experience.



First sight:





As gigh as we were able to get since we had no equipment to deal with the snow peak. We'd started at 3800m and reached 4800.

The Quilotoa Loop

08.06.11

First major hike in the region. The Quilotoa loop in in the center of the country, and takes you through some very authentic villages. Problem: lots of tourists around. Still was extra pleasant. Exhausting walks and nearly fainted after 12 hours of it. ... I blame the lack of oxygen. Fortunately Marie is a MEdic student and knew what to do!



View over the valley. Starting our walk at 7AM



Asking for the way:


PEople who stopped to stare:


Us at teh lake

Path around the lake, at the top of the mountains.



When I was close to death:



When we made it our of the fog. End of the walk.




EXTRAS.


Little yellow flower called "zapatitos" (= "little shoes" or slippers)

Ottavalo.

03.06.11

Ottavalo is a Market north of Ecuador, just a few hundred kilometers on the otherside of the Colombian border. thats where I left Mike and her american mum who owned the jeep I drove.

Crossing of the Ecuadorian border and San Gabriel

02.06.11

I'm in a village called San Gabriel in the north of Ecuador. There's nothing here. But all the same: I feel excited about being in a new country. This place uses US dollars for currency. It doesn't feel quite right paying for my empenadas with green bank notes...

I crossed over the border yesterday with Carole and her son. We're still in the 4x4. Crossing from Mocoa to Pasto in Colombia was fascinating. It was a stone path through the mountains, we had to drive through rivers, water falls by the hundreds over a distance of 100km, and all this under the rain!!! The day after that, we got to Impiales where there's this big cathedral built over a canyon. I'll send some pics as soon as possible.

San Augustin

30.05.11

This morning, I left what may have been paradise on earth. San Augustin was a cheap place for me to stay, especially since evrybody there live hippy style. A metal roof, and a few bricks to avoid your hammock from swinging too much. Good also to not blow out your fire too quicklly. I'm good at living that way and people being so friendly; I was quickly able to mak friends and find a place to stay. Within no time, the whole village knew El Vaquero Chino, "The Chinese Cowboy".

Place is full of archeological sites. i found an old travel mate there: Franck from Tyrona! He's got a life there: his own horse and has nearly adopted his own family. I w invited to people's homes for nearly every meal. Lots to do during the day: suprbe walks and archeological sites to visit. Lots of statues of the type you'd usually associate with latin american ancient cultures. But that's not all. Legend ays that there are tunels under the ground on San Augustin. Currently, an archeologica team from th national university of Colombia is excavating what seems to be a pyramid covered under mud. For centuries, people lthought it was just an ordinary hill. Tunnels ar meant to lead to an undrground hidden city!!!

I met lots of travellers there, and lots of very friendluy locals who helped me a lot. Travelling has become much cheaper since I am able to commuicate propperly;a nd have decent conversations with the locals. I get a lot of help from people, and good ideas. mong other people, i met a north american lady in her 50s, traveling with her 7 year old son in a 4 by 4 they bought in Quito, Ecuador 2 months ago.. She has some sort of a pain in left arm that makes it difficult for her to drive. I suggsted to take her back to Quito where she needs to catch a plane in 12 days. We've now ben travelling together for the past 24 hours, and we're heading towards Ipiales, on the border with Ecuador.