Danger.... Danger Bay!!

So, I have been living such a tranquil life here in Quito the last couple months I decided a couple weeks ago that I should start living up to my middle name, Danger, .... and go on some WILD, potentially life-threatening adventures..... or misadventures..

Colombia Bumblia
My first excursion was to Colombia, about 12 whole kms across the border too! When I heard that some friends of mine were going to take a trip across the border to renew their visas I thought it looked like a perfect opportunity to get a Colombian stamp on my passport (p.s. apparently now they have resorted to terribly ugly computer printed 'stamps' as opposed to fancy, colourful, and UNIQUE stamps of the old days ... very disappointing).

Unfortunately, maybe because I am not a very good liar to begin with, I could not convince myself that I had actually been to Colombia. Really, in my very rational mind, crossing the border to renew a passport (even if you stay a few days as I did in the closest town) is essentially the same as having a stop-over in a different country but never leaving the airport. You can't, by law of rationalism, say that you have really been to that country. That's just a dirty deceiving LIE!

A note on traveling to Colombia: When people tell you that the Ecuadorian side of the border is wet and cold, don't be fooled by Colombia's tropical reputation that the Colombian side of the border won't also be frigid. Ipiales, which lies about 10kms across the border was rainy and cold... and I was not at all prepared to say the least. We sucked it up though and headed for the nearest pub. On our last day there we made a wee journey to frequent pilgrimage site of El Sanctuario de Las Lajas, an intriguing gothic style church. There were so many people there visiting, on the walk down to the church the walls are covered in plaques from donors or people who had experienced miracles. One of my favourite parts about visiting shrines like this is seeing the economic opportunities some people make out of it. Walking down to the church we passed vendor after vendor selling everything from religious paraphernalia to roasted cuy (aka guinea pig), and traumatizing eye flickering crucifix holograms.... among other things! (sorry I don't know how to rotate the video).

In the end, my trip to Colombia, the country with more kidnappings than the ENTIRE WORLD COMBINED (or so the rumour I am spreading goes) turned out to be pretty danger-free.

Evacuation Station
My next peligroso adventure was this weekend when I went on a volcano chasing excursion. You know how there are people who chase tornados, well I was chasing a volcano. Now, I realize that volcanoes are relatively immobile, but the task turned out to be much trickier than I had expected.

Presently, some 135 km south of Quito the Tungurahua Volcano is erupting. According to the papers, "Hot and dangerous lava was due to reach the town of Baños, which has 15,000 residents, on Monday". Well its nice to see that the Chinese online news were able predict (though incorrectly) the course of the eruptions, because due to some unexpected clouds I was hardly able to get a decentglimpses of Tungurahua at all. Friday night I stayed in the village of Pelileo, a little farther north of Baños where the view is supposed to be good. I actually set my alarm three times that night to get up to see if I could spot some explosions, but NOTHING!! The clouds were think all they into day. That day I went with two friends into Baños where we participated in a very relaxed and actually quite spirited mock evacuation. It was funny. Here we were, the whole town walking through the streets, the National Police in dust masks and the tourists running around trying to get pictures from every possible angle. Yes, really quite interesting. Anyway, on our way back to the town to have dinner... that's right, I said I was living dangerously didn't I, I caught a glimpse of a wee poof of smoke and dust rising into the sky above the clouds. So, with that I was as satisfied as I could be; the nasty weather foiled my plan once again. And off I went to catch the 45 minute late no explinations bus to the jungle.