Met my new GAP group at a meeting on Saturday night. Looks like a good group; 2 Germans, 2 Brits, a Dane and 11 Canadians, from Vancouver to Halifax. Our group leader is Mari-Sol, an lovely Ecuadorian woman, who has been with GAP for 7 years.
On Sunday we headed out to Papallacta, a small town with hot springs, set high in the mountains at 3300m (10,800 feet). We were expecting fairly simple accomodation, but as GAP often does, the place really exceeded our expectations. Beautiful Adobe architechture, large public hot pools, and even a spa. We had individual cabins that slept 2 downstairs, and up to 4 in the upper loft area. Each one also had a kitchen, small dining table, and a living area with a fireplace. They provided wood for the fire, and it was so cozy. Remember, although we are right on the Equator, at night the temperature drops to pretty chilly.
This is also why we really enjoyed the private hot pools that were for the use of people staying in the cabins... our group! It was an excellent way to start the trip, relaxing and chilling, getting to know each other.
We had a fantastic meal (as every one has been so far in Ecuador). Most people had the fresh trout done in all different styles. I had already had trout twice, so opted for the shrimp casserol that our guide recommended... delicious.
It was during our meal that the 16th member of our group, Jeremy, arrived. He has horrid tales of bad connection through Madrid on Iberia. He arrived one day late, and had to take an $80 taxi from Quito to our mountain hideaway. Oh well, at least he made it, and as the only other single male, it turned out he was my roomie.
After dinner it was more soaking in the hot pools, and a great night's sleep in the cool, quiet mountain air.
Next morning, we jumped into trucks, headed down to the highway, and caught a local bus heading for Tena, in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The adventure had started.
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