June 20, 2008

2008 Itinerary

We woke to pouring rain! Coming up with Plan B we bought boots in the market for our hike, expecting mud. Leaving Otavalo, we traveled by bus and then switched to a bumpy ride in the back of pickups. We arrived at Cotocachi Lake. This lake is mythical, formed in a volcanic crater and surrounded by 2000 plant species.

We then hiked 4 hours 43 minutes, 10.7 miles at 10,000 feet, round trip through the Paramo (a high altitude, treeless terrain in the Andes) to see one of Heifer’s alpaca projects. The herd began with 43 alpacas and now numbers 150. On our hike we saw hundreds of blooming flowers, from North Carolina familiars like dandelions, clover and ageratum, to exotic stalks of tiny green orchids and brilliant rosy colored passion flowers.

The Morochos community welcomed us with an Ecuadorian feast that included cuy (Guinea Pig, roasted), sweet tomato juice, giant ears of maize, tomato onion relish, avocado and roasted pork. We were entertained by children in native dress and dancing and were able to purchase beautiful local handicrafts, many made from Alpaca yarns, and everything made by the members of the community.

Our day ended with a bumpy four hour bus ride to the Cloud Forest.

Q & A for June 20

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