Cuenca and Cajas

Time is flying bye and we have just arrived in Alausí. The bus trip here was fairly impressive with some very steep country.

Yesterday I went to Cajas with a group of Belguims and a Canadian girl and it was nice to have a walk at 4,200m, although it wasn´t a particularly long walk and suprisingly the guide struggled the most. Cajas means cold in Quichua and the park certainly lived up to it´s name - and we had a great day. In the sun and out of the wind we roasted, yet in the wind it was cold even with woolen layers and jackets. It was the first time i have seen scenary that really reminded me of NZ - the park has 235 lakes (tarns in my opinion) and all that grows is tussick and something like spaniard grass. I have a photo that could just about be Lake Angelus. We were amazingly lucky to get a fine day as it is ofton so misty you can hardly see your hand in front of your face. They are a bit parranoid about people getting lost due to the mist and cold and your chancess of survival aren´t too high. It was actually a really fun group and we went to the hot pools with them in the evening.

Hazel :)