March 2009

Pululahua

The Pululahua, a volcano in Ecuador, but for years, I do not know how many, no longer active.
is special and fascinating thing is that people settled in this volcanic crater.
They built houses, as laid on corn fields and a village created in a volcano.
By car you can first use up the crater Öfnnung , Now get what I did, accompanied by my former brothers and two guest Lena.
From there you can either go down on foot or on the backs of donkeys or horses to the small but fine spectacle to watch from very close.
four of us went on our trip by foot and went down about 40 minutes.
Frankly, I expected at the end of the road, so to speak, so to be able to find the bottom of the crater floor, a cozy little village. A Döfchen with small houses, shops, bars and restaurants .... Nope.
reached the bottom we looked at open fields, horses and cows, five houses and a church.
Although I had gatäuscht my ideas, but despite all we maschierten a while by you ruihge idyllic village of Volcano.
It is already seen interesting how one can live down there, because it does lack the inhabitants to almost nothing.
There is electricity, water and food, and they wish you peace and quiet here in Quito and often.
So there was a small, but beautiful Auflug Exceptionally, we had to end but unfortunately in the rain.

La Amazonia

It was just wonderful, memorable and hard to describe!
But now, in order:
For us, the last group of Rotary, which was to take a trip to the Amazon, went there on 12 March finally happening. With
18 Austuschschülern and two advisors, we romped us, then this Thursday in the residence hall around the VIP area, because yes, exactly, we had our trip to the Amazon as Very Important Persons compete with a small machine.
We could leave us with pre-flight Cafe, sandwiches, fruit cake and serve and then increased, happy and well-filled stomach in the plane.
After only 30 minutes flight already opened the clouds, the plane began to sink and for us it was only green tropical forest, several small houses and the Napo river to see. A truly beautiful sight.
We landed in Coca, a town which I visited with my family had.
From there we drove, with a red boat and life jackets great;), on the River Napo, another two hours deep into the Amazon.
During the trip, we enjoyed the pleasant wind that swept us in the face and zerstrubbelte our hair, the little drops of water of the river, which we splashed and the breathtaking view of the tropical forest that vorbeihuschte left and right of us.
arrived at our destination, a lodge called Yachana were, we welcome warmly the same with a small soft drink as a welcome.
based fast our little wooden house, crafted with our anti-mosquito spray and met soon after to have on first evening, a night hike through the Selva (jungle) to make.
With a little palpitation we cut through the thicket, was 1000 - and 100 do Füßler good night, are afraid of spiders, even the most dangerous, "La X" and see examples of snakes and other inhabitants of the Amazon.
The next days were just more beautiful and exciting.
We got the possibility of panning for gold in their work and family zuzugucken migrated also during the day through banana plantations, cocoa and palm trees throughout. Two locals us everything was explained about the Selva, plants and their inhabitants, which was really interesting and amazing at the same time.
close on a little game to three minutes, the eyes and say not a word had to hear the noises we unique opportunity of the Amazon and enjoy.
monkeys, birds and other animals, a unique and unparalleled Geräuchskulisse that is unlike anything offered to us, so that after those three minutes do not even felt the desire to open the eyes again, but still a little while longer by the melodies would be enchanted.
Another day, we visited a small market, where among the dealers were exchanged products. On the way back to our lodge, we were exposed to a small island in the river and were able, including life jackets and with the help of the current, floating about a half hour to our accommodation.
Although a bit cold, but beautiful, like the trees and plants get passed us and the current pulled us with it.
I can now say even with, to be cleaned. Well, if you believe in it. We visited namely, a Shaman, a little old man with 12 children, who drove us through a bunch of cigar smoke and big leaves, the bad spirits from the body.
That has brought something, I doubt it, because I have noticed, except a headache from all the smoke, nothing, even if it claimed a friend of mine who felt a relief after the procedure have to.
Our two companions were, and also two methods to kill animals. Spear throwing and a kind of pipe blowing. Unfortunately, I realized that I am so untalented, so that the animal I could not even stun.
breakfast, lunch and dinner were more than adequate and very tasty, but of course there was not only known food ....
We could look at a kind of cooking show, was in a really tasty fish, wrapped in a sheet prepared. For this purpose they served Palmito, the interior of a certain palm tree, and a kind of spinach from stinging nettles as inserts. To cap it wanted to roast over the fire, thick worms making tasty, the one or the other dared to put even living in the mouth ...
one evening to put Lena and I are in a bikini on the terrace, where we usually eat together and from where you have a fantastic view of the Amazon. We enjoyed the last rays of sunshine and almost silently admired the sunset.
passed so our 5 days in the Amazon, while in continuous rain but much too fast.
with beautiful, unforgettable memories and many new experiences, it was then, unfortunately, on Monday the 16th March again back into the current rainy and always noisy, chaotic Quito.
I wanted to go there again, just to once again the peace and seclusion enjoy beautiful views to.