Cotopaxi-Tour

I actually don't want to write too much about it. Take a look at the few pictures and see for yourself. It was so beautiful up there. Also, there were endless weather changes.

We didn't see the summit of Cotopaxi all day. But if you've ever been in the mountains and experienced how the clouds sweep over the ground, how suddenly the view of the landscape opens up beneath you, how the wind whistles in your face so that you can't breathe without holding your hand over your mouth, how suddenly rain, heavy rain, pours down on you from the low-hanging gray clouds, then just imagine all of that while looking at the pictures.

Summary of the trip: Bus ride towards Cotopaxi - same route as with the Tren de los Volcanes, but on the road - Desayuno (breakfast) at a lodge on the way - another hour's drive to the park entrance with stops to get food and clothing (hat, gloves) - entry into the Cotopaxi National Park (in the largest ship = rain!!) - initially through pine and eucalyptus forests (both introduced plants by the way) - then the fauna changes to the typical Andean highland vegetation, without shrubs - nothing remains of vegetation above 4200 m - uphill in hairpin bends up to 4600 m to the parking lot - on foot, 200 meters in altitude to the refuge (helping a slightly stocky Venezuelan guy who actually made it) - taking a photo in front of the sign with 4800 and some meters - into the house - atmosphere like on a mountain hut - drinking coca tea (I allowed myself: hello!! When do you ever get to this altitude!!) - out of the hut (now it's... pouring!) - if the visibility were good, you would now see the white, majestic summit and the eye - going down is damn fast, passing the exhausted followers - search for and find a geocache at the parking lot - on the bus - try on a helmet - go down about 100 meters by bus - grab bikes - and off we go with the (not so well-suspended) bikes, but great! - park the bike at the meeting point by the lake and wait for the onward journey.

I had to hurry during the descent. I explained to the guide that I still had to fetch a cache along the way, about 400 meters away from our route, on the road to the northern exit of the park. The guide wasn't thrilled about it, it would take at least 15 minutes. I said I only need five minutes. He allowed me to do it on the condition that I would be among the first to start the descent. I understand the man, of course. With what kind of crazy people he deals with every day? Obviously. He's responsible, but I know what I can do and that's why things go as planned: with an extra 5-minute loop and still one of the first. Two Germans were even faster. However, it must be said that there was an accident along the way. Nothing crazy, but a fall and the English woman who scraped her chin and cheek significantly will probably have to remember this fall for a while. It takes a while for the wounds to heal.

On the way back, a late almuerzo (lunch) is served at the same lodge. Oh, that feels good! By the way, I realize that I can easily communicate in French. It was nice, after the numerous well-it's-okay experiences with Spanish. However, learning Spanish is still the goal: as much as possible!

Well, now I've written way too much.

It's your own fault if you read it!