Honking

There are many reasons to honk here in Ecuador. First is the standard get-out-of-my-way honk (which happens even when there is no possible way the people in the car ahead of you could get out of the way) and there is the greeting honk. But honking is also for alerting someone to your presence when going around a corner or through an intersection. Taxis honk also to tell people that they are empty and willing to take you where you wish to go. There are many other reasons to honk but I haven't figured them out yet.

Now that I have educated you on "The Honk" I will now let you know that I am sitting in the cafe/bar of our hostel, L'Auberge Inn. It is better than a Hotel 6 but only because it has more charm and a travel agency on the premises. And it is in Quito and not on the side of the road somewhere.

Last night we got back from our two wonderful evenings in the Cloud Forest. We saw birds and an arboreal Andean porcupine. I didn't get a picture of him. He had smaller quills than the North American type. Our guides were suprised to see him. I guess he is not a regular sight. We will be uploading some pictures in a day or two. We are headed for Cotopaxi National Park today.

On our trip to the Cloud Forest we stayed at the El Monte Sustainable Lodge. In order to get over to the lodge and our cabana we had to cross the river by a terebita, which is a cable car. It was fun watching the river pass under us as I clutched my possesions. Our guide Fernando was great and very helpful and attentive. I felt like we were living in our own secret hideaway where we were treated like royalty, or close enough for us. We are not used to the service we received there. The only thing we did not like was the sand flies that have made us two twitchy foreigners. I am attempting to not scratch right now. It was a small price to pay...

And the tubing down the river which was more like white water rafting with a bunch inner tubes tied together. It was both fun and slightly scary. When I went tubing in West Virginia we had to sign a form and watch a video and the rapids were nothing there - a joke probably to the guys who got us around the rocks and made sure we didn't flip over or fall off. You will see. Fernando recorded a good video for us.

The Cock-of-the-Rock Lek... a walk at 5:15 am to a place where a very unusal bird does a very unique little mating dance. The walk up the hill was beautiful. The cloud mist rested over the green hills. It was worth the earliness. We heard the call of the birds before we saw them. And again there will be pictures and video forthcoming. Uploading that takes time we don't have.

As soon as Brian and I arrived at El Monte we wanted to figure out how to stay there longer. Or move there. It is a paradise for those who can't live without a flushing toilet and a comfortable bed but still love nature. The food they served us was delicious also. Anyone who knows me knows that I look forward to meal time and they gave us much to look forward to.

On our second evening we met a couple from Scotland. They were also on their honeymoon, although for them it was the traditional right after the wedding honeymoon. Another coincidence is that they had just come from where we are going today, Hosteria La Cienega.

I am about to eat breakfast at the inn and then we are off to La Cienega and Cotopaxi.