Censo/Rio bamba/Cotopaxi

Day 1 (February 1)

We got back from the Amazon and had our last formal day of classes in Quito. As a class, we decided to use our final session as a review for the final. The review went well but I had so much to do before the end of this module. I had a research paper, a case study and a presentation to prepare for on top of reviewing for the final, I was beginning to feel overwhelmed. Sitting in the dark hallway franticly typing my paper and preparing for a very late night of studying I got an E-mail that tomorrow's class (the final) was canceled! Instead of class, we needed to take our passports to the immigration office and get our censos. The censo is the official ID for no non- natives and with out it we can not enter the islands. Up until this point our passports where with the lawyer getting a special stamp… When dealing with the Ecuadorian government, everything takes a little bit longer then expected. This is because they are currently re writing their constitution so there are literally no rules for how things need to be run. I brought the required documents to the official at the front desk, he barely glanced at the paper work and handed me my ID card in a matter of minutes. However, my friend Megan, who had the exact same documents as I did spent two hours fling out additional forms! It was a nightmare.

After that mess we got back to the hotel, began packing both for Rio Baba and the Galapagos as we had less then 24 hours upon coming back before leaving again. That night I also finished writing my paper, sent it to the proof, and made a power point before going to bed. Overall, it was a very productive day.

Day 2 (February 2)

The next morning we loaded on to the bus for a 3 hour drive up to the highlands. I used this time to read the article and take a few notes. When I did look out the window, I saw amazing patchworks of farm land on the sides of mountains. Women dressed in colorful alpaca scarves and dresses walking bony cattle across the road often stopped and waved as the large bus roared by their humble cement houses. It amazing to see how little these people lived on. It made me begin to evaluate the things that I take for granted in my own life.

We arrive at the school and where greeted by an exuberant gut named Dave who showed us around campus. This school like the one in Quito has a culinary program; however, their focus is on pastries, deserts and chocolate. We where led into the bakery and where allowed to sample anything we wanted. I tried some heavenly truffles and a bit of cake. Yum!

Unfortunately, as much as I would have liked to explore the city, we had a bunch of class work to finish. It was a challenge to sit in another classroom and watch presentations when there was a whole new city outside. One presentation sticks out in my mind as being interesting, A woman cam in a spoke to up about the status of the indigous women in the community and her efforts to combat domestic violence. Something like 60% of the indigenous women experience domestic violence, but it is a part of their culture and so it is a hard to find the line between intervention and changing the way of life for these people to be “more civilized”.

After 2 long hours of presentations, we had a wonderful lunch and went back upstairs to participate in a language exchange with some of the locals. One of the more programs that the school offers is English classes and so the school wanted to give their student and chance to practice their English and us a chance to practice our Spanish. I have a great respect for anyone that can speak two languages…the kids did extremely well. And I…I need much more practice. I am going to pick up as much as I can while I am on the island.

After the meet and greet we all loaded back on to the bus and whet deeper into the highlands to a base camp for one of he highest peaks in Ecuador. The base camp was a hostel style hotel in the middle of an indigenous farming community. Because of the altitude, it was considerably colder then the temperature I had been enjoying in weeks previous. I was thankful for the big sweatshirt and genes that to brought with me. By the time, we go to the base camp the sun was beginning to set and there was a cold drizzle beginning to come down. We took a short tour of the farms looking at the alpaca and sheep that they sheer and use the wool to make hats and sweaters. It was amazing to see how these people get by on so little. We had a big dinner of my favorite potato soup and a lamb chop (most likely from that farm we just saw). About halfway though the dinner the power went out and so we ate dinner in the dark and I studded for the final in candle light. After about two hours the power did come back on which gave me a chance to brush my teeth and jump into bed. It was so cold in the lodge that I could see my breath as I walked about the cabin. I was thankful for the two big alpaca blankets that where on my bed.

Day 3 (February 3)

At 7:00 the next morning we where given a huge breakfast of local eggs, fresh fruit, bread, hot chocolate, tea and juice. The warm drinks did wonders for taking the chill out of my system. Once we where sufficiently stuffed we packed up all of our thinks and began the days hike. We walked for about an hour in the arid regain of the highlands climbing ever higher. We where 11,000 feet above sea level so there was much less oxygen. I was very easily winded. The sky was over cast and so even when we reached the summit you could not see much down below. According to our guide, on a clear day it is possible to see the ocean.

We came back down the same way we went up and got on to the bus that took us to another base camp where we hung out for a little bit and sipped cinnamon tea until Carlos, the professor, announced that it was time to take the final. I had been studying for a while, but I was tired from the walk and feeling a little goofy from the altitude, so it was a bit of a challenge to focus on the task. Luckily the exam was pretty easy so I think I did well. We ate lunch at the base camp and then went out rock climbing. I tried it but it was so cold that I could not feel my fingers, so I did not get very far. I spent the reset of the time waling around and just enjoying being out of Quito.

After everyone had a chance at rock climbing, we left the highlands and headed to a hotel back in the center of rio bamba. The hotel was amazing compared to the loge we stayed in the night before. Big comfy beds and best of all….. a warm shower! It was the best shower I have had since arriving in Ecuador. This week is a holiday that is celebrated across south America known as carnival. It is the same concept as Marti Gras, sin as much as you can before ash Wednesday. There was a carnival party at the school and so a few of us went to check it out. Upon walking into the gym where the party was held it felt a bit like a high school dance…with lots of alcohol. We did not stay to long, we where tired and there was more traveling to do tomorrow.

Day 4 (February 4)

Light breakfast (good coffee) before getting back on the bus and going to Cotopaxi an active volcano. We all took pictures of a pretty crater lake. On the way to lunch, we saw wild horses in the distance and beautiful mountain ranges. When we pulled in to the base camp, we saw several horses in a corral and we asked our guild if we could ride instead of go on another hike. So, over lunch our guide worked arrangements to get all of us settled up we went horse back riding though the mountain range. The horse I had ha a lot of spunk to it and really wanted to run, it took a lot of pulling to get him under control at first, but once I was able to get him under control it was an amazing experience that I will not soon forget.

Once we all dismounted it was back on the bus to drive part of the way up Cotopaxi clouds had rolled in and it was starting to rain. I fell asleep on the bus ride up there when I did wake up we where surrounded in the thickest fog I had ever seen, and then I realized we where so high up that we where inside a cloud! I could not see a foot in front of me, I don’t know how our driver did not manage to drive us right of a cliff! It was pretty eerie.

Out of the clouds, down from the mountains, past the indigenous women and children taking the livestock home from the fields. Back to the loud dirty and the hotel that I had called home for the last month. I was tired and feeling a little sick from all the changes in altitude. When we finally got back to Quito it was dark, Fernando the guy who lovingly served us dinner each night was waiting for us. This guy truly loved his job was so happy to serve us dinner. ***out of context: I remember the first weekend that we had free we where unsure if dinner was covered by the school or not so we all went out for a big dinner. However, upon coming back to the hotel Fernando was waiting for us with the door open and pouring us freshly made juice. Not of us had the heart to tell him that we had just ate, so we ate again…it was like not telling mom that you where coming home for dinner…so guilty*** I will miss him. After dinner I came on line just to tell people I was still alive, and then spent the rest of the time before bed making sure I had everything packed because the very next morning we would be leaving for Galapagos.