Today was an adventurous one to say the least. Last night before dinner we arranged with a local shop to rent a dune buggy for a few hours. Yesterday was pretty uneventful and we spent most of our time trying to figure out what to do in this lovely little adventure town. We decided to stay an extra day here as opposed to heading back into another city before our bus trip to Peru at the end of the week.
We ate a quick breakfast before grabbing the dune buggy around 10:30. I only speak for me when I say that I was a little nervous at first getting into this over-sized go-cart, but my fears soon subsided as we breezed our way through town to the outskirts. After getting lost a few times, we finally found the main road and headed along the way through high soaring Andean peaks, over bridges and through tunnels.
Our journey continued on the road and eventually turned around as we were unsure of time and lacked money to do anymore excursions. The buggy ride alone was worth it, and loads of fun. We were so distracted that we managed to both get sunburned, but only on one side of our bodies of course. Just another day in paradise. We rode through town and up a massive hill to find out where we could hike later in the day before eventually returning the cart. No damage to us or the vehicle, thankfully.
A local market was being held just a few blocks from our hotel so we checked it out for lunch and had a tradition Ecuadorian platter of suckled pig, giant maze, potato, topped with onions and tomato. Deliciousness, and cheap. We ventured through town to look for Couy (giunea pig!) to eat also, but had no luck.
At our hotel we bought some cervezas and started our descent up to the "Mirador Virgen". I don't think I realized how strenuous the hike would be. We eventually reached the highest point, a beautiful lookout that gave us an amazing view of the city and surrounding mountains. Strangely enough the area was covered in a light dusting of ash from the volcano that looms over the city. At the top we found dozens of giant moths, beautiful butterflies and beetles. We sat and drank our beers for a good hour while chatting.
Not sure about our plans for tomorrow yet, we may rent bikes and ride all the way to Puyo, or just do a local hike. I think we are both just thankful to be here for another day.
Gavin (y June)
mas (many) mas mas fotos y videos after the cut below, enjoy!!!
6 comments:
Whoa! Junebug looks like birdman (or do they call him Jetman?)! Where'd she go? This all looks like a blast. I can't believe you could ride the buggy on the road. I'm afraid of heights too, but I definitely would've done the ziplining, though you would've had to hear the screaming the whole way.
I think I would have been more nervous to be in a 'basket', 'propelled via cable by a truck engine', in 'primitive fashion by a conductor'.
Never heard of Jetman nor Birdman, but both name would have suited June today. Pretty hilarious as you can tell from my reaction. The buggy was awesome, and the roads safe, to an extent...
I felt the same way about the basket cable car, but it was pretty exhilarating.
We both hope you are getting more excited to join us by the day.
Love from us both,
Gavin y June
look at that huge smile on june's face right before she goes down the zip line! looks like you guys are having the time of your lives. has your spanish improved in the past few weeks?
Our Espanol has definitely been improving, only due to the fact that we really need it in most of the places we have been going.
Come down and meet us somewhere Rae Rae!
That is the best zipline I have ever seen (and maybe the longest straight one, too). Congratulations, June. That took a lot of nerve!
“I’ve been to Paris. And it ain’t that pretty at all.” – Warren Zevon, from the song Ain’t That Pretty At All
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