Mountain Chill

Back in the land
of eating.
Tena marked by
numero uno river adventure
and bad food.
Arrived Papallacta thermal springs
mountain hike in the rain
paramo, cows, llamas, views
up, up in the thin Andes air
resort hotel--not my style
but with a good restaurant
and hot sulphur baths
at any hour
5AM, for example
alone, naked, in the dark
exquisite.
Lunch at hotel:
Locro de papas (potato soup with cheese and avocado)
Salad from their organic garden.
Dinner at the local--and delish--shack
at the bottom of the road
local trout
with an aguardiente to take off
the mountain chill
followed by a canelaza in the hotel bar
naranjillo juice, explosive liquor, cinnamon, served hot
not the best idea to down two stiff ones
up this high.

* * * * *

Offered a lift to my next stop
by a lovely couple from Colorado
traveling in style
with a four-wheel drive
driver and guide.
Saved me from a multiple-bus trip
flagging down my next ride roadside.
Benefitted from their knowledgeable guide
and a stop at a pristine lake at the top of the world
and another at the equatorial line
(yes, Bill, the water drains in two different directions)
Thank you, Carol, Rick, Alfredo and Arturo.
Have arrived in Otavalo
just in time for an excellent lunch
blackberry juice
avocado with shredded chicken
Llapingachos (corn and cheese dumplings) served with
fried eggs, some meat thing I didn't eat, mote (hominy) and more avocado
too much food, but no such thing as too much
ripe avocado. Yum.

* * * * * * *

Hung out in the main plaza
walked around the crafts market
didn't buy anything
hate to shop
picturesque town.
Overpriced, unmemorable dinner at the hotel
because I'm tired out.
Buenas noches.