Cuicocho, the road to your soul

I believe the last place I left you was in Otavalo Ecuador a lovely, colorful and crowded place renowned for their Saturday artisans market.  Not far from there is a lesser traveled attraction called Laguna Cuicocho also called Lago del Cuy (Guinea Pig Lake) named for the largest island in the lake believed to look like a guinea pig.  It is approximately 650 feet deep, 2 miles wide, at an altitude of 10,650 feet located in a crater at the foot of  volcan Cotacachi.  There are three domes of volcanic rock that form two islands rising from the center of the lagoon, Yerovi Island & Teodoro Wolf Island. These two islands have a channel between them called, “channel of dreams”.

Yerovi and Teodoro Wolf Islands

There is no known outlet for the lake and it has such a high alkaline level little life survives.  Only the Silvery Grebe bird which lives on the vegetation just below the surface and the banks of the lake.

There is a small park on the lower rim with a trail taking you through the history of the lake as it was used by the indigenous Quechua.  The lake is still used today every summer solstice (Inti-Raymi) by shaman for ritual cleansing and purification.

 The trail took us through some of their other practices as well.  We thought they sacrificed people so Captain Don was getting ready.  Only they prepared food.  I hope our Spanish gets better.

stone cauldron

he only thinks I'm going to do this!

 The perimeter offers a challenging 8 miles hike taking about 4 to 5 hours to complete if you are so inclined. We made about 3 miles and decided breathing would be a better option, so we headed back to the restaurant for beerthirty.  (higher altitudes take a lot of getting used to)

rim as you can see goes up!

This was such a beautiful view looking away from the lake you see the valley of Otavalo as it spreads from populated to farming.  The area is surrounded by other volcanos; Imbabura, Cayambe, Cotopaxi, and Cotacachi. Spectacular.  You are in the clouds, we were calling them "Homer Simpson" clouds, they're so incredibly cartoon white and the sky so blue.

Otavalo Valley

Cotacachi one of the only snow capped mountains in Ecuador

There is a quaint restaurant serving local cuisine and a hostel that has a cabin on the side of the mountain.  After seeing it, I wanted to move in, unpack my computer and pretend I was a famous writer living in seclusion producing a life changing manuscript! 

fireplace, table, cushioned
window seat overlooking lake, room service, wooden walls and floor, beams made from cedar and bamboo.  Eclectic, rustic, possibly a bit feng shui, none the less warm and very welcoming.

view of room from other side of the lake

restaurant

Staring from my window seat at the snow capped mountain, the lake, the blue of the sky, was certainly captivating.  I began to feel a change, to see this place God made, and I was given a personal invitation.  It was experience of freedom that  comes from the inside.  A release from gravity, not only terrestrial but all the pulls of life.  A freedom to see what is before you in that moment, your senses are alive guiding you from one wonder to the other. I cannot describe it as delight, thrilling, or tranquil.  It was more a loss of all thoughts, there was no discord, no needs or fears.  There was something within that was aware of unity and oneness.  There is a God, and He has made an indelible memory for my soul.

There is beauty in different forms, places, people. There is something for all of us, shared and special.