Camera-shy Cotapaxi

It is a fact universally acknowledged that every visitor to Ecuador is in want of that perfect cloud-free shot of Cotapaxi. Unfortunately Cotapaxi herself also seems to know this and so, according to every Ecuadorian you ask, hides from tourists. Only nationals it seems are permitted to see her.

I initially though this to be another joke at the expense of foreigners cleverly doubling as a get-out-of-jail-free card for tour guides when irate tourists berate him over the fact that their countless photos of their trip to Parque Nacional Cotapaxi are of the black base of a mountain completely shrouded in clouds.

Still, we set out on beautifully clear and sunny Sunday at the crack of dawn in order to get a photo of this rather elusive Ecuadorian icon. The most amazing sight of all was the completely empty streets of northern Quito. Obviously I didn't expect many people to be up at 5.30 am (I thought we were crazy enough to be) but it's a slightly surreal feeling to see a street it usually takes a taxi at least 15 minutes to get from end to the other completely empty.  Read More>>>