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So here is a little piece on Cayambe, or how I felt when climbing it. We didn't make it to the top of the volcano; you can probably tell that I am a little disappointed by that. However, while we sat on the shoulder at 5400 metres, we saw a sight that we wouldn't have … Continue reading Aye Cayambe!

Late last night, I was browsing the magazines strewn around the hostel at which I'm staying. I picked up Intelligent Life on a whim; I've never read it before, and the pretentious title seemed to be too highbrow for a lazy read before bed.Boy, was I wrong. The magazine was filled with a variety of … Continue reading Good morning!

I've been longing to write about last Thursday on the side of Tungurahua, and a completed post has been long in the works. However, since my last post (here), I have climbed Tungurahua, risked a rickety bus journey to the city, celebrated the capital's birthday at Fiesta de Quito, worked on the side of Cotopaxi, … Continue reading Another Week at the OVT: Day 8

I'm back at OVT!Do you remember your first year at university? You were probably in halls, like I was, and you probably, like me, had that one person on your corridor. You know the one I mean. The constant loud noise, sudden and eventful spillages out of the door (ie. vomcanoes), mysterious odours and bumps … Continue reading Another Week at the OVT: Day 7

Sunday, 29th November:Miriam's phone crackled and blared into life at four o'clock. On the end of the line was Pablo, our guia (guide); he wanted us to know that he was running late, and would be outside my flat in five minutes.'No worries', Miriam assured him, as I scrambled to get my things together. Outside, … Continue reading Illiniza Norte

About a week ago, I started to wake up slowly.It began the day after I got back from the Pacific coast. At Playa Escondida I spent two days of drowsy, sleeping wakefulness, during which time I only stirred from my hammock to flop on the grass, or float in the sea, or wander down the … Continue reading Quito’s been cloudy lately.

In the far, far north, on the west, west coast, past the great, dark town, down the red, rough track, through the clean, green grass, lies a true blue sea ... or rather, the largest ocean on Earth. We're half a degree of latitude north of the Equator, so far have we come, and behind … Continue reading I’ve absconded to Playa Escondida

It's funny how the smallest details stay with you.Several months after I received confirmation of my trip to Ecuador, Cotopaxi blew its top. The volcano erupted on August 14th, 2015, sending a plume of hot ash and gas 12 kilometres into the atmosphere above its head. Mum showed me an article released by the BBC: … Continue reading A Day Trip To Cotopaxi

Technically, my trip to Laguna Quilotoa was only just over a week ago, on Sunday 8th November. But what a lot I have been up to in the nine days since! A whirlwind of meeting friends, fieldwork, geochemistry, the panorama of an erupting volcano, eight sodding hours in a bus terminal, and an absquatulation to … Continue reading Quilo-whoa

... of how adorable and idiotic the dogs of Ecuador are. Enjoy!Early morning guard dog, Tungurahua ProvinceFight!Apparently also a guard dog. House outside Guadalupe.Puppy at the climbing wall. For some reason I didn't climb many routes that day!