Vilcabamba

Vilcabamba in the so called valley of longevity

a beautiful, relaxed athmosphere in a gorgeous setting with green hills and rocky tops around, a warm climate all year round, which really feels good after our Parque Cajas fog and wind experience...
apart from the locals there are lots of people from the US, from Europe and elsewhere with various bars and restaurants,
and we are staying in a GREAT guesthouse, run by 2 german brothers and their german friend. and a great Ecuadorian team!
www.izhcayluma.de

One of the best things here was that we met Katy, 70 and Mike, 72, from the US. I would adopt them if I could, they got so many stories to tell and are admirable and a role model of how I would like to be and live at that age! They are maried for 49 years and full of energy and humour...
Just look at their blog.

mikatyadventures@travelblog.org

 They  have done and seen sooo many things, e.g. lived in Aethiopia for 2 years in some village far off everything and built a clinic there!... after they had retired.
After Ethiopia, they travelled for 5 years through the US and Mexico in a campervan...
It was a pleasure having dinner and chat with them.

People here in Vilcabamba are said to live longer and be much more healthy than others.
if you are interested, you can find a real good report (for a radio broadcast} here>

http://www.dradio.de/download/151135/

When I arrived to the guesthouse and the marvellous view, it made CLICK and I just wanted to stay here, to be, to relax, to lie at the pool or hang in the hammock and to do nothing. and not to move on... this is very rare with me, as you know...  so this is a special place and I am happy we have 4 days here. did a bit of hike and bike and yoga but not much more...
Would LOVE to volunteer here (people who are interested, contact them, they hire volunteers every now and then!... and hope I can be back one day.)

Und dann war da noch Anita aus Regensburg, Anfang 40, die seit 14 Monaten allein mit dem Rad unterwegs ist. In Alaska hat sie angefangen und in Ushuaia will sie aufhoeren. Dazwischen wird sie aber wohl aus Sicherheitsgruenden auch manchmal den Bus nehmen. Malaria und Dengue Fiebe hat sie auch schon hinter sich.
Und vielleicht radelt sie dann noch von Spanien heim nach Deutschland. WAwere shcoen, wenn ich sie dann ein Stueck begleitenkoennte!... traeum traeum...
Es gibt unglaubliche Leute...

***
In "town", around the plaza, you find everything from pollo asado to Crepes to natural yoghurt to chocolate cake to.... and a bit of those special offers for special needs  ...

I could just sit on one of those terraces and let the people pass by and watch and have TIME!

It is really intersting for me to see myself, and I dont know why I was so "bored" with a few free days on the beach in Fiji and why I am so relaxed here...


..making travel plans for Peru...

a bissl bike und hike waren wir auch....

Well tomorrow we will take the night bus and cross the border to Peru, where more adventures await us!
We have only seen a small part of the incredibly fast developing Ecuador, the beach, the north and the Amazonas areas are left to be visited next time...
I really liked the time here, it was easy to travel and people are really friendly. I did not feel insecure or unsafe a single time (though I was told it might be a bit different in the north )
We were both surprised about the changes in the country, it will be more and more, or even IS, in many parts, "westernized " , soon.  Which is good concerning infrastructure and living standards for the people, but we are afraid that the TYPICAL of Ecuador might disappear in maybe one generation...


Our first goal in Peru is HUARAZ in the Cordillera Blanca and I am sooo much looking forward to it and hope for good weather!