Bar-winged Cinclodes

Near an open-fronted stall that sold colas and food, birds of several species scampered about, gleaning morsels from the ground. I managed to photograph a couple, and I'm fairly sure this is a Bar-winged Cinclodes (Cinclodes fuscus), typical of the páramo grasslands.



[20 August 2011 (Ecuador), Panasonic Lumix GH1, 100–300 mm at 300 mm, ISO 200, 1/320 at f5.6]

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Quito and Cotopaxi

We were the first people (other than staff) to the top of the Teleférico last Saturday, and the early start gave us spectacular views of the Avenue of Volcanoes, with Quito (shown here) sprawling lengthwise along the valley. Later, cloud and haze obscured the volcanoes. This is Cotopaxi, the best known and most visited of Ecuador's volcanoes, although at 5897 m, it's only the second highest peak in the country (the highest, Chimborazo (6310 m), is higher than any point on Earth, including Chomolungma/Sagarmatha/Everest, if measured from Earth's centre).


[20 August 2011 (Ecuador), Panasonic Lumix GH1, 14–45 mm at 45 mm, ISO 200, 1/500 at f11]

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

View from the summit of Rucu Pichincha

At the summit, only one other person had already arrived, just a minute or so earlier. Cloud had already begun to close in, and the play of light and shadow on the surrounding mountains and valleys meant this was close to an ideal time to have arrived. Even at just under 4700 m, the temperature wasn't cool enough to be unpleasant — quite the contrary, in fact. [The wide angle and the need to tilt the camera down slightly makes the scene appear less steep than it appeared at the time.]

After about quarter of an hour, others began to arrive. Time to head down. By the time we were halfway down, the summit had been enveloped in cloud.


[20 August 2011 (Ecuador), Panasonic Lumix GH1, 14–45 mm at 16 mm, ISO 200, 1/320 at f11]

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Trudging up Rucu Pichincha

We timed yesterday's walk perfectly, enjoying the views before cloud and haze obscured the volcanoes, before cloud closed in around the summit of Rucu Pichincha. The sign at the top said 4696 metres (about 15,400 feet) — the highest I've been — but the altitude didn't seem to affect me too badly. I did notice I seemed to be puffing more and my legs seemed a little tired — but that might have been partly a consequence of the relative lack of exercise over the last few weeks. By the time the usual afternoon thunderstorm arrived, we were off the mountain.

That's Rucu Pichincha in the background, looking much smaller than it appears in person. Sorry, I don't know the name of the flower.



[20 August 2011 (Ecuador), Panasonic Lumix GH1, 14–45 mm at 14 mm, ISO 200, 1/800 at f8]


All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Storms over Quito

In the afternoons of the last couple of days, thunderstorms have built up over Quito and the surrounding hills. Yesterday we had a tremendous storm — lightning and thunder every few seconds, and torrential rain that turned to hail and left drifts of hailstones that looked like snow on the footpaths. Today's storm was less violent, but I still wouldn't have wanted to have been caught out in it, particularly high up on the mountains, where we're intending to go tomorrow (Saturday). We'll be making an early start and keeping a close eye on the weather; all going well, we should be at least back to the top of the Teleférico before the afternoon weather turns bad.

A telephoto view from my room.

[9 August 2011 (Ecuador), Panasonic Lumix GH1, 100–300 mm at 300 mm, ISO 400, 1/160 at f5.6]

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

At the Cascada de Peguche

The Cascada de Peguche on the outskirts of Otavalo seemed overrun with people, but still retains significance for those whose ancestors have lived here for a great many generations. Without the benefit of that long association with the place, I found the crowds distracting, although I managed a momentary glimpse of what the falls might mean. (I've posted some impressions from the day on Pohanginapete.)

[13 August 2011 (Ecuador), Panasonic Lumix GH1, 14–45 mm at 14 mm, ISO 400, 1/500 at f7.1]

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Food market, Otavalo

Pigs, apparently, are highly intelligent animals. Perhaps it's good they're not quite intelligent enough to see their eventual fate, which seems universal. At least some, probably like this individual, had lives they could enjoy, unlike most of the pigs in so-called "developed" countries. (The meat market immediately behind this scene was truly gruesome.)

On Saturday I visited the famous market at Otavalo with friends; a two-hour bus journey from Quito (not counting the two bus trips to get from the hostel to the bus terminal). A great but tiring day.


[13 August 2011 (Ecuador), Panasonic Lumix GH1, 14–45 mm at 37 mm, ISO 400, 1/40 at f8]


All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Tarabita workers, Mindo

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The tarabita at Mindo is a simple cage that runs back and forth across a deep ravine in the cloud forest. Power comes from what seems to be a truck engine; most of the time the sole functions of these men would appear to be starting and stopping the engine and switching it from reverse to forward. Still, it's a nice place for an office and they seemed cheerful.


[6 August 2011 (Ecuador), Panasonic Lumix GH1, 14–45 mm at 17 mm, ISO 400, 1/60 at f5.6]


All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

The Teleférico, Quito

The Teleférico (gondola) runs to the top of a hill on the outskirts of Quito. The views, apparently, are staggering, and I'll get up there soon. First, though, I have a couple of hundred irregular verbs to get my head around — not as bad as it sounds, because there's a pattern to most and many seem to share their origins with their English equivalents. But speaking a language effectively can't be done by working it out on the spot. I have to know it.

Just a record shot. I promise I'll try to do better ;^)

[9 August 2011 (Ecuador), Panasonic Lumix GH1, 100–300 mm at 171 mm, ISO 400, 1/2500 at f8]

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor