Andes, for real

This blog finally lives up its name-- I actually feasted my eyes upon the Andes this weekend. With Ecuadorian friends of a friend, we drove up to 4000 metres to camp, walk and fish (well, some of us.) It was like a passage to another world. Part of my amazement may be attributed to my slight dizziness at being so high up, but the incredible stretches of deserted tundra-- save for some wild horses and llamas-- or the peaks towering over us definitely account for most of it. About fifteen of us spent the night in a straw hut, without electricity, cellphone coverage or neighbors. Blissful.