After another long bumpy, bus ride accompanied by many other sweaty homo sapiens and a first aid box with a religious picture above it, we finally made it to Tena for a last night of celebrations and goodbyes to volunteers staying on the project. The following morning five of us continued with our journey to Quito. Another long bus ride on exceptionally winding roads through the Andes (not conducive with a hangover as one of the volunteers discovered) led back to Quito. One by one fellow volunteers left for flights home leaving me to explore the rest of Quito on my own.
Quito has an old town and a new town. I found a really nice hostel in the new town where there are lots of european style restaraunts and cafes and otherwise known as ¨Gringo Land¨, however there are lots of smart casualy dressed Ecuadorian´s who hang out there also so it maintains an authentic feel. Mostly I enjoyed being reunited with filter coffee, something I had missed greatly when in the jungle. The colourful market in the Mariscal area was lovely and had a Camden feal about it.
I also explored the old town, the colonial part of the city with narrow streets and bussling energetic feel with trams, cars and buses and traffic jams and people everywhere in a chaotic but beautiful fashion. I particularly wanted to visit La Basillica, a gothic style church adorned with iguana figurines externally and beautiful stained glass windows internally. I walked for many hours with so much to see and chatted to a few nice locals who spoke to me in what has become my usual half English half Spanish otherwise known as 'Spanglish'.
On another occasion I visited the botanical gardens which although worth a visit did not compare with many others in England. All interpretations were in Spanish so the gardens were designed less as a tourist attraction and more to educate locals I felt. Interestingly there was an area dedicated to traditional Ecuadorian life in the jungle. This jumped out at me as there are people who continue to live this way in Ecuador. In Europe the historical interpretations of this kind are displayed as they no longer exist, but here they still do but I guess even the most traditional tribes are now using more modern tools and clothing on a daily basis perhaps.
Whilst at the gardens I heard a gun shot which at the time although it sounded like a gas gun, had my full attention. After the coop on arrival into Quito I was taking no chances. It was hilarious in retrospect. From the inside of the gardens I peered through the high mesh fence and shrubbery into the surrounding park to see a man and child running as fast as my heratbeat. On further observation I realised it was only them running and with time my adrenanlin levels and heart beat returned to normal and I could laugh at myself, having momentarily thought I would have to hide out in one of the buildings within the gardens!
It seems that Ecuadorian children of all ages accompany their parents at work when not at school. Its nice to see, it is a whole family affair where everyone chips in with either the work or looking after the youngest of the children. It doesn´t matter where you are on the street, people will walk past carrying items for sale, ranging from sunglasses to pictures, sweets and household items. There are no puch chairs or prams, babies and toddlers are carried on womens backs with slings made from sheets.
Having sprained a foot during my long walk in sandals to the old town I was given directions by the lady at my hostel to get a metro bus into the old town for another excursion. Not knowing how the local bus system worked I tried to enter via the exit turnstyles. Not seeing another option I made my way into the bus lane and hurriedly jumped up on to the high platform. After a short wait I boarded the bus but was confused as to how I paid for the journey. I asked a local who spoke a little English but was none the wiser on his response. On exiting the bus, following all the others I realised that I was meant to pay on entry on the otherside of the platform where there would have been a person in a booth taking payment. I considered explaining that I had not paid but quickly realised that with my poor spanish I would probably land myself in more trouble then it was worth. I exited the platform through the turnstyle awaiting an official sounding shout! Luckily it never came and I hurried away mingling quickly into the crowds, feeling like a criminal in a strange place. I made sure I paid on the way back and I think the cost was 25cents, equivalent to about 15p. The trip to the old town proved very fruitful. I was desperate to have a two way conversation in English so I met an lovely unsuspecting canadian couple suffering with alltitude having just arrived in Quito the night before and taking the opportunity to sit and relax on a bench in Plaza Grande. With my uncharacteristic (ok I lie) verbal diorreah I talked to them for hours and felt honoured to have met such a lovely couple and hearing all their travel stories.
Whilst here in Ecuador I really wanted to visit Mindo, set in the cloud forest, described as a must see in the guide book and well known for it's birdlife. I only had a day to visit due to other commitments but it was a real adventure, a cacophony of highs and lows! Again the lady at my hostel had supplied me with the travel itenary. I left the hostel at 7am and flagged down one of the numerous yellow ecuadorian taxi's, showing the driver the name of the bus station I needed to get to. On arrival at the station I managed to coherse in spanish with a local to establish which bus platform was required and on the buses arrival load of people tried to cram on to an already full bus. My bag almost went on the journey without me but I just about managed to cram through the closing doors. It was a long journey out of Quito, standing all the time but quick as the metro buses have designated lanes for their use only. I arrived at an even bigger bus station which although at first was daunting was quite easy once I found the correct booth to purchase a ticket. During my hour wait, I studied my spanish phrase book and dictionary for questions I would require for the rest of my journey and to make sure I caught the bus back to Quito by the end of the day.
After a further 2 hours on the bus around the mountains and up into the cloud forest through windey roads and rain, we reached Mindo. As soon as I disembarked a local Ecuadorian with very good american english was there to assist me with advice on what to do and where to go.
On her recommendation I caught an unofficial taxi ride to the zip canopy wires. A chance to climb into a harness and zip wire through the tree canopy with two ecuadorian guides who were very young and thank god aknowledged my request 'no mas rapido' and then arraged another unnofficial taxi ride to the Cascadas and back for a good price.
I climbed into the cable car with a women, her child and their dog for a short 3 minute journey over the tree canopy once more to reach the other side of the mountain. I then started my peaceful walk through the cloud forest to see two of the five waterfalls. It was beautiful and the light rain reminded me of home. The trail was easy to follow, although all the time I was working out how long it took me to walk downward along the trail and doubling the estimated time back up to meet my taxi driver waiting for me back on the other side to take me into the town to catch the last bus back to Quito. I liked Mindo and wished I had more time to spend, the people were friendly as tourism was so important to them. I did not see so much of the birdlife as it was afternoon and raining but the scenery was breathtaking and the experience of the journey challenging but great fun! On the journey back through the cloud forest and over the mountains, I could't help but notice the shapes of the old trees adorned with weeping vines which reminded me of the Ents in Lord of the Rings.....magical and I could imagine them groaning as they wisely reflected on the changing world around them.
More to follow soon x
Quito has an old town and a new town. I found a really nice hostel in the new town where there are lots of european style restaraunts and cafes and otherwise known as ¨Gringo Land¨, however there are lots of smart casualy dressed Ecuadorian´s who hang out there also so it maintains an authentic feel. Mostly I enjoyed being reunited with filter coffee, something I had missed greatly when in the jungle. The colourful market in the Mariscal area was lovely and had a Camden feal about it.
I also explored the old town, the colonial part of the city with narrow streets and bussling energetic feel with trams, cars and buses and traffic jams and people everywhere in a chaotic but beautiful fashion. I particularly wanted to visit La Basillica, a gothic style church adorned with iguana figurines externally and beautiful stained glass windows internally. I walked for many hours with so much to see and chatted to a few nice locals who spoke to me in what has become my usual half English half Spanish otherwise known as 'Spanglish'.
On another occasion I visited the botanical gardens which although worth a visit did not compare with many others in England. All interpretations were in Spanish so the gardens were designed less as a tourist attraction and more to educate locals I felt. Interestingly there was an area dedicated to traditional Ecuadorian life in the jungle. This jumped out at me as there are people who continue to live this way in Ecuador. In Europe the historical interpretations of this kind are displayed as they no longer exist, but here they still do but I guess even the most traditional tribes are now using more modern tools and clothing on a daily basis perhaps.
Whilst at the gardens I heard a gun shot which at the time although it sounded like a gas gun, had my full attention. After the coop on arrival into Quito I was taking no chances. It was hilarious in retrospect. From the inside of the gardens I peered through the high mesh fence and shrubbery into the surrounding park to see a man and child running as fast as my heratbeat. On further observation I realised it was only them running and with time my adrenanlin levels and heart beat returned to normal and I could laugh at myself, having momentarily thought I would have to hide out in one of the buildings within the gardens!
It seems that Ecuadorian children of all ages accompany their parents at work when not at school. Its nice to see, it is a whole family affair where everyone chips in with either the work or looking after the youngest of the children. It doesn´t matter where you are on the street, people will walk past carrying items for sale, ranging from sunglasses to pictures, sweets and household items. There are no puch chairs or prams, babies and toddlers are carried on womens backs with slings made from sheets.
Having sprained a foot during my long walk in sandals to the old town I was given directions by the lady at my hostel to get a metro bus into the old town for another excursion. Not knowing how the local bus system worked I tried to enter via the exit turnstyles. Not seeing another option I made my way into the bus lane and hurriedly jumped up on to the high platform. After a short wait I boarded the bus but was confused as to how I paid for the journey. I asked a local who spoke a little English but was none the wiser on his response. On exiting the bus, following all the others I realised that I was meant to pay on entry on the otherside of the platform where there would have been a person in a booth taking payment. I considered explaining that I had not paid but quickly realised that with my poor spanish I would probably land myself in more trouble then it was worth. I exited the platform through the turnstyle awaiting an official sounding shout! Luckily it never came and I hurried away mingling quickly into the crowds, feeling like a criminal in a strange place. I made sure I paid on the way back and I think the cost was 25cents, equivalent to about 15p. The trip to the old town proved very fruitful. I was desperate to have a two way conversation in English so I met an lovely unsuspecting canadian couple suffering with alltitude having just arrived in Quito the night before and taking the opportunity to sit and relax on a bench in Plaza Grande. With my uncharacteristic (ok I lie) verbal diorreah I talked to them for hours and felt honoured to have met such a lovely couple and hearing all their travel stories.
Whilst here in Ecuador I really wanted to visit Mindo, set in the cloud forest, described as a must see in the guide book and well known for it's birdlife. I only had a day to visit due to other commitments but it was a real adventure, a cacophony of highs and lows! Again the lady at my hostel had supplied me with the travel itenary. I left the hostel at 7am and flagged down one of the numerous yellow ecuadorian taxi's, showing the driver the name of the bus station I needed to get to. On arrival at the station I managed to coherse in spanish with a local to establish which bus platform was required and on the buses arrival load of people tried to cram on to an already full bus. My bag almost went on the journey without me but I just about managed to cram through the closing doors. It was a long journey out of Quito, standing all the time but quick as the metro buses have designated lanes for their use only. I arrived at an even bigger bus station which although at first was daunting was quite easy once I found the correct booth to purchase a ticket. During my hour wait, I studied my spanish phrase book and dictionary for questions I would require for the rest of my journey and to make sure I caught the bus back to Quito by the end of the day.
After a further 2 hours on the bus around the mountains and up into the cloud forest through windey roads and rain, we reached Mindo. As soon as I disembarked a local Ecuadorian with very good american english was there to assist me with advice on what to do and where to go.
On her recommendation I caught an unofficial taxi ride to the zip canopy wires. A chance to climb into a harness and zip wire through the tree canopy with two ecuadorian guides who were very young and thank god aknowledged my request 'no mas rapido' and then arraged another unnofficial taxi ride to the Cascadas and back for a good price.
I climbed into the cable car with a women, her child and their dog for a short 3 minute journey over the tree canopy once more to reach the other side of the mountain. I then started my peaceful walk through the cloud forest to see two of the five waterfalls. It was beautiful and the light rain reminded me of home. The trail was easy to follow, although all the time I was working out how long it took me to walk downward along the trail and doubling the estimated time back up to meet my taxi driver waiting for me back on the other side to take me into the town to catch the last bus back to Quito. I liked Mindo and wished I had more time to spend, the people were friendly as tourism was so important to them. I did not see so much of the birdlife as it was afternoon and raining but the scenery was breathtaking and the experience of the journey challenging but great fun! On the journey back through the cloud forest and over the mountains, I could't help but notice the shapes of the old trees adorned with weeping vines which reminded me of the Ents in Lord of the Rings.....magical and I could imagine them groaning as they wisely reflected on the changing world around them.
More to follow soon x
No comments:
Post a Comment