Mindo
Friday morning Margara, Julio and I left for Mindo. It is a small town North west of Quito. It is lower in elevation and the road to there is full of hairpin turns. We passed through a wooded area that was so beautiful. Then we smelled smoke and looked up and there was a big forest fire on the hillside. It was a little ways off from the road but still... There were no signs of any firefighting efforts either. I was a little freaked out but then on the way back it was out and there were some firefighters on the side of the road.
We got to the town and an information center guy directed us to a camp site that was right next to the river. We got to the parking area and expected a little hike to get to the camping site but it was really close. There was this suspended box thing above the river. It carried us across by two guys pulling ropes on either side.
Once we were across we talked to someone who told us that we could use the campsites for free or use the cabañas for $5. We had brought a tent and were planning on "roughing it" and saving money. We went to see what the cabañas were like, just to see. They were so nice. For five bucks we thought, what the heck and decided to be more "civilized."
The cabaña was so nice inside. It had three levels. The bottom level had a kitchen with a stove and a sink, two bathrooms with running water, and a large dining area. The second level had several single beds each with a pillow and mosquito net. The third level was a series of several platforms that you got to by ladder that had more beds. We decided to sleep on one of these because the view was so beautiful. Plus we felt safer from creepy crawlers up high.
First thing we did was cook our lunch. We had brought some ramen noodles and beans for lunch. So we needed water. The water from the sink was pretty brown so we walked down to the river to try it out. The water from the river was crystal clear. Seriously, we probably could have drunk it straight since it was so pure but we decided to boil it to be safe. Sure enough, it was great. However, in our wilderness spirit we didn´t bring any water with us, so we had to go through this process several times. But it wasn´t so bad. The river was practically right outside the door.
After lunch we walked around some and decided to collect wood for a fire. I was a little nervous about picking things up off the ground. I thought I might find a snake or big spider or something, but no. It was fine. Julio and I built the fire and started it...with one match. YES! I felt very proud. One mistake, we threw some bamboo logs in the fire. Since their construction consists of several chambers, when a chamber would get hot the air inside would expand and POP! It was pretty scary at first until we figured out what was going on. (note:M Teresa told us there was an earthquake at the same time we were building the fire. Margara said she felt it because she was in the cabaña which is on stilts. But I am bummed because I felt nothing.) As it got dark we were sitting around the fire talking then singing and laughing. Plus we brought one of those cartons of wine, so it was a really relaxing setup. Then to top off the amazing night, fireflies starting flying around. It was so beautiful. Mindo is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.
Our fire went out so we moved the party inside and played cards around the dining table. I saw a mouse and it scared me becuase I thought it was a huge rat that was going to attack me. But no, it was just a little mouse that Julio chased out by stomping on the floor.
When we went up to our bed to sleep, we had left the light on the room was full of bugs. I was beyond freaked out. I just kept my eyes on the floor and crawled up to bed under the safety of the mosquito net. I was sleeping so good. The sound of the river and the frogs and everything was like music. It got a little cold late into the night but I just put on a sweater and went right back to sleep.
The next morning I was the first one up. I went downstairs to start some water boiling and as I walked into the dining area like a hundred butterflies stirred up and flew out the door. It startled me at first but then I was like, "Oh how pretty."
We had breakfast then went on a little hike then decided to go to the river for a swim. Brrrr. The water was really cold, but I had been so hot from the humidity the whole day and night before that I really wanted a refreshing dip. So once the convulsions stopped I was calmly sitting on a rock enjoying the water.
After that we dried off and headed home. I had such a good time. It was an amazingly beautiful place. The pictures I took are full of flowers and every kind of green thing you can imagine. Its just breathtaking.
We got to the town and an information center guy directed us to a camp site that was right next to the river. We got to the parking area and expected a little hike to get to the camping site but it was really close. There was this suspended box thing above the river. It carried us across by two guys pulling ropes on either side.
Once we were across we talked to someone who told us that we could use the campsites for free or use the cabañas for $5. We had brought a tent and were planning on "roughing it" and saving money. We went to see what the cabañas were like, just to see. They were so nice. For five bucks we thought, what the heck and decided to be more "civilized."
The cabaña was so nice inside. It had three levels. The bottom level had a kitchen with a stove and a sink, two bathrooms with running water, and a large dining area. The second level had several single beds each with a pillow and mosquito net. The third level was a series of several platforms that you got to by ladder that had more beds. We decided to sleep on one of these because the view was so beautiful. Plus we felt safer from creepy crawlers up high.
First thing we did was cook our lunch. We had brought some ramen noodles and beans for lunch. So we needed water. The water from the sink was pretty brown so we walked down to the river to try it out. The water from the river was crystal clear. Seriously, we probably could have drunk it straight since it was so pure but we decided to boil it to be safe. Sure enough, it was great. However, in our wilderness spirit we didn´t bring any water with us, so we had to go through this process several times. But it wasn´t so bad. The river was practically right outside the door.
After lunch we walked around some and decided to collect wood for a fire. I was a little nervous about picking things up off the ground. I thought I might find a snake or big spider or something, but no. It was fine. Julio and I built the fire and started it...with one match. YES! I felt very proud. One mistake, we threw some bamboo logs in the fire. Since their construction consists of several chambers, when a chamber would get hot the air inside would expand and POP! It was pretty scary at first until we figured out what was going on. (note:M Teresa told us there was an earthquake at the same time we were building the fire. Margara said she felt it because she was in the cabaña which is on stilts. But I am bummed because I felt nothing.) As it got dark we were sitting around the fire talking then singing and laughing. Plus we brought one of those cartons of wine, so it was a really relaxing setup. Then to top off the amazing night, fireflies starting flying around. It was so beautiful. Mindo is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.
Our fire went out so we moved the party inside and played cards around the dining table. I saw a mouse and it scared me becuase I thought it was a huge rat that was going to attack me. But no, it was just a little mouse that Julio chased out by stomping on the floor.
When we went up to our bed to sleep, we had left the light on the room was full of bugs. I was beyond freaked out. I just kept my eyes on the floor and crawled up to bed under the safety of the mosquito net. I was sleeping so good. The sound of the river and the frogs and everything was like music. It got a little cold late into the night but I just put on a sweater and went right back to sleep.
The next morning I was the first one up. I went downstairs to start some water boiling and as I walked into the dining area like a hundred butterflies stirred up and flew out the door. It startled me at first but then I was like, "Oh how pretty."
We had breakfast then went on a little hike then decided to go to the river for a swim. Brrrr. The water was really cold, but I had been so hot from the humidity the whole day and night before that I really wanted a refreshing dip. So once the convulsions stopped I was calmly sitting on a rock enjoying the water.
After that we dried off and headed home. I had such a good time. It was an amazingly beautiful place. The pictures I took are full of flowers and every kind of green thing you can imagine. Its just breathtaking.