Beginning the day after Christmas we had a week off from our worksites so we planned a trip to the Loja area. So bright and early on the 26th we headed to the terminal and jumped on an 8 hour bus to Loja and then another to Zemora, the site of the east entry point of the National Park Podocarpus. Podocarpus is a neat park because its eastern side is in the rainforest and its western half is in a mountainous cloud forest. Zemora is a sleepy little town but seeing the park on that side is absolutely worth the trip. Our bizarre hotel gave each of the 7 of us our own hotel room for $12 a night and I squeezed as many hot showers into 2 days as possible. We spent the 27th hiking through the park; we were on a path in search of an illusive mirador (look out point) which we never reached but had a great time traipsing through the rainforrest along the way. A couple highlights were playing around in a waterfall and floating down the river with the current. On the 28th we arrived in Vilcabamba, an international little tourist town with good food and some bizarre ex-pats on the other side of the park. Vilcabamba is famous for its old timers; locals swear that the perfect climate and healthy lifestyles of the natives allow people to to live for 120 or 130 years. You will have to check in with Jessie or Tasha in about 90- they were sure to drink plenty of the water just in case there´s something to the legend :) That first afternoon Jon, Celso and I did a quick hike up to a lookoutpoint with a great view of the town nestled in the mountains (shameful tourist picture). We got to the top just in time for a thunderstorm so getting down was a little iffy for those of us who are less stable on our feet. The next morning we did the hike again but our attempt to see the sunrise was thwarted by clouds passing through the spot on which we were standing. We spent the whole day horsebackriding along the mountain ridges. Jessie and Christina obviously befriended our guide, Holger (ponder the name ¨Holger´s Horses¨) so what we lacked in talent we made up for in personality. We spent our last day in Loja, a neat city with more of a European feel and while we did not make it into the actual national park, we did the 8 km walk to the entrance and got to check out some of the views the west side of Podocarpus has to offer. We jumped on an overnight bus back to Guayaquil and were home by the morning of New Year´s Eve. All in all it was a great trip and an awesome opportunity for us to get out of Guayaquil and see a little of the country! Pictures to come.
So happy to perhaps beat Mrs. Garvey to comment! Funny you chose 1/12 to add to your blog as we were in the middle of a blizzard in Boston. It was a snow day all around yet not much fun as we did not have power for much of the day. It was certainly getting cold in the house without heat but I know you and most of our friends and family think we always keep the house on 55 degrees!! We will hold you to your promise of more blogs as a New Year's resolution. I love your blogs! As I have told you, they so sound like you talking which always makes me chuckle!! P.S. Did you like the Long, Long Way and what the heck happened to that poor mouse that burned on New Year's Eve? Poor guy! Off to Lyle Lovett tonight. Dad insists he bought the tickets for me! Ha Ha! I think not.
ReplyDeleteThe only reason your mother beat me to this blog was the power outage no doubt!So glad to see you back on the blog. Your excursion sounds amazing and hopefully we will see pictures someday. I must admit, I am curious about the mouse as well - I hope he/she wasn't dinner?!? BTW, Flat Stanley had an exciting trip to Vegas with Mr. Garvey. Can't wait to hear how you explain that location to the children. When do you need him sent back to you? We are going to Paris in May and would love to have him join us! Take care of yourself and keep blogging!
ReplyDeleteWOW!! Pictures are soooo beautiful - thanks!
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