Weather was supposed to be better now therefore we headed to Latacunga the starting point for a four days hike around the Laguna Quilotoa. There we met Wouter who was joining us for the hike and his sister Elise who just joined us for a day in Latacunga with a lot of fun and some great dancing to awfully bad music in a local disco! And yes guys back home, I tried to live up to my reputation. It was just too little space on the dance floor for going with full power ;-)
In this context: I am really really sorry that I missed the wedding of you, Nadine and Björn! But not just for the dancing! Once more: All my very best wishes are with you! Go go go!

After we missed the bus to the Posada de Tigua we took a cab there. Which was a pretty good decision as it was a long trip and we have been a bit late already. The first day started tough. All the way up to the Lagunga Quilotoa, an amazing crater lake, and the village aside at 3870 meters above sea level. This is an altitude where one recognizes that the air gets thin…

…thus, the night was a bit uncomfortable, waking up a lot of times and starting into the next with slight headache. However, it was all washed away by an amazing sunrise over the Laguna. Last feeling of tiredness was washed away by a swim in the cold(!) water. We got warm directly on the way back up. After breakfast we started the second day in amazing sunshine. Yeah! Thanks to Petrus for being so kind to me so far on this trip. Aside from Katharina who joined us already in Latacunga Miha joined our little hiking group in Quilotoa. The first part of the day we went along the ridge of the crater with new amazing views of the Lagunga around every corner. After almost one half of the round we left the Laguna. Wouter and I run down a sandy hill like little kids. So much fun, Woooohooo! We then could already see Chuchilán but needed to go all the way down into a valley and all the way up. Stayed at the beautiful Cloud Forest Hostal (awesome food!) and had the honor to be allowed to join a group of locals celebrating the evening with guitar playing and beautiful singing. Gorgeous! Thanks to all of you guys for allowing us to join! And for the Cubra Libre! Fantastic evening!

Next day we followed a river almost the whole day. Crossed it on the wrong bridge. Got stuck on the other side and needed to get down do the river again. Instead of going back, which I was too lazy for, I tried it with the fall line. Well, it was more falling than hiking but we all managed to get down without injuries. After following the river for some kilometers the way went up again. Beautiful way with nice views over the river valley.

The last day was quite short but again beautiful. Basically every single day was different regarding landscape. After taking a bus from Sigchos back to Latacunga we had to find a hostal. Wouter already knew the Hotel Central where we were greeted by the lady of the house with a very warm welcome and a coffee. Great! Hot hot showers with a lot of water. Roof top terrace. Totally recommended! Get WiFi and you are perfect! Thanks Viola and the team for this warm welcome and your hospitality! After a nice dinner and some beers, Miha, Wouter and I went to a party just a few meters from the hotel. It was something like a finishing school party. Have not seen so many so drunk people for a long long time :-) But they all have been so friendly. We got free Canelazo and were officially greeted by the guy at the mic. However, the party was over some minutes after we arrived. Well, it was not our fault, but the kids needed to go to bed ;-)

A big big thanks to all my hiking companions Claudia, Katharina, Miha, and Wouter on this trip! I deeply enjoyed your company! So great! Thanks for taking the fall line on day three. Nothing you can take for granted. But so much fun! Special thanks to Katharina for having a smile on her face all the time! A very special thanks to Wouter: Thanks for the awesome conversations we have had on this hike and for all the stupid jokes, the giggling, the laughter and the fun you have shared with me. Never expected that we get along soo good! We will definitely see again, dude!

Sending out a lot of joy and fun to you all!
Michael