Mindo

Mindo

Up 6.30 Sat 4^th Sep 09. Met other volunteer at organisation’s office (the air is clear and breathable at this time of the morning, but come 09.00 you need a mask ) 15 min bus ride to another bus station, then Metro Bus to another interprovincial & international bus station. (the Metro bus runs in dedicated bus streets) Journey of almost an hour past airport in north of city.

In bus station booked tickets for 9.20 bus to Mindo. Bus on time. Took 45 min to get out of Quito into the countryside. Passed Mitad del Mondo (equator site, monument and tourist traps where equator first marked) and a nice quarry which gave a cloud of dust in the air for about 2 miles , till we got over a pass and eventually into forested area. It was one non-stop set of S bends which did not deter other drivers from passing. Up hill and down dale we hit Mindo @ 11.10.

Mindo is one street about 350 meters long with a plaza at the end. First find Casa Cecelia (x Lonely Planet). 250 mts off main street up dirt track. Cecilia was delighted to see us. The notice inside the door required us to take off our shoes upon entering. House and flooring of local hardwood, mahogany or some such. Floors kind of polished , makes sense to go around in stocking feet. Room for 4 upstairs through a landing area with two hammocks, no walls everything open to elements, but they are 35/37 degrees & v humid. Bedroom also open with mosquito nets. The door tied with a chord, to prevent intruders, and access also afforded by the trapdoor leading back down to reception. In the garden humming bird feeders in constant use and El Rio Mindo running through property.

Lunch in local Mexican then went canopy zipping. Canopy zipping was 1.5 km outside town uphill in heat & humidity. Canopy zipping is travelling through and over the canopy of the forest in a harness which runs on a hawser secured to rocks and in some cases to trees. Over a period of about 2 hours you have 12 separate runs travelling about 3.5 km in all looking down on the canopy. The more adventurous participants did some of the runs upside down & other unspeakable poses. I simply hung on, but wasn’t really scared. Two people had to give up --- altitude exercise & motion made them sick. What made me sick was my own smell hot sweaty and sticky, I was not alone, everyone’s sweat glands were working overtime.

A post zipping beer in the town watching Ecuador v Columbia in a World Cup qualifier…… and next thing Ecuador score----- “Whoopee” I shout – to be greeted with stony silence all round.----The team wearing yellow scored Ecuador’s colours – unfortunately both teams wear very similar colours and Columbia, being the home team , were wearing yellow—Ecuador were wearing navy blue that day.

After the match the fiesta del Virgen de Quito commenced. First Mass—this required that all the seating in church be brought out onto the street, which duly happened over an hour. Mass took place with the altar at the door of the church and much clapping and singing under the cross of blue neon lights above the church.

We ate in the designed –for –gringo restaurant after which we joined the dancing & music near the plaza. The festivities were enlivened by what I was assured was vino. This liquid was served in used plastic bottles. The camerera took a ladle full of boiling liquid from the pot on her stove and poured it into the bottle. The boiling liquid consisted of a syrup with pineapple and other materials. I believe the plastic bottles were pre-charged with some form of local grappa, potin or other hooch. It was the nose that gave it away. Three quarters of the bottle of witches brew was donated to the shrubbery in the plaza. The music was everything you would expect. Even across the bridge at the other end of town you had to shout to be heard.

I retired early, 11.30, and slept soundly . At about 5.00 awoke with an astounding headache. I attribute it mainly to the exercise at altitude,but the tablespoon of brew didn’t help. Sunday morning after a fantastic breakfast from Cecelia, eaten by the river with the humming birds hovering, booked horse riding through the forest for 11.30. Come the time we are asked to postpone until 2.00. We agree and hang around, have lunch in one of the many half finished buildings. About 1.00 we notice a lot of activity with horses, including one rider who has his horse fall on his side, the rider lies between the horse’s legs and is given a beer while lying prone. The horse arises another person runs from behind and jumps into the saddle then the original rider runs from behind and jumps on behind the saddle facing backwards, all to thunderous applause.

(For the benefit of Mr Kite there will be a show tonight in Mindolene. Here you can expect only the surreal – At one of Quito’s major intersections a clown stands in the traffic juggling flaming torches. We live such boring lives in Europe).

Come 2.00 we are told that all the horses are engaged in the fiesta activities. The current fiesta activity is :

· Rope across street at the height of horse rider’s head

· Attached to rope are ribbons with a small ring on end

· Horse rider has a biro sized stick with which must pick a ribbon from the rope.

· Rider gallops 50 meters on street, downhill, attempts to pick ring with stick

· Rider stops horse 15 meters afret rope

Since the horses are engaged we are given the option of participating in the equine games. The decision to opt to walk to the nearby cascade was not difficult.

Bus at 6.00 pm. We got back to Quito, tired but happy.

Will describe who “we” are next time.