Postcard! 
Hola (o Adios as they say the Colombians to greet briefly)! Here
las chicas (ants and Siboulet), live Ipiales first Colombian city after Ecuador.
We crossed the border yesterday, papers in order, after 90 days battery hair!
It makes us smile when we think back to today's state of mind in which we were entering in Ecuador:
"There the-foo, 'We have to trace you can cross ... this country in a month, parents of Yanoch arrive and Amelie too !..."
Ecuador, when you hold us!
This country we initially surprised by his relief that was, since we left France The toughest (the flat does not exist ...) It was then
many surprises on the way (good or otherwise, but always rewarding) that we have chosen ...
Celebrations of Cuenca, in prison Riobamba, shipping on the Tungurahua volcano in Baños, the jungle toward the community of Rio Blanco (towards Tena) and Quito with his festiclown, the papers are the trunk, all steps to recover and the consequences on the draft "Christmas vacation in Colombia" ...
That's how we landed in Otavalo between girls (with our friend Gaëllou) to find a bunch of friends craftsmen.
Otavalo is a charming little town "textiles" in the middle of a green valley. It is held one of the largest craft market in Ecuador and even Latin America.
When you walk in certain streets, we will work weaving machines at all hours of day and night.
The people of this region have maintained their traditional dress: men wear long hair in a ponytail or braid white trousers, a sort of sandals, sneakers and often a blue poncho over a shirt.
For women, they wear a white shirt, sleeves Mid-length frilly embroidered, collared dress with wide fine golden beads flush with the neck, a narrow skirt of dark color to them fall to the ankles and hair attached, coated with a colorful woven belt.
The area is perfect for pleasant strolls, as the lagoon Cuicocha (3068m above sea level), located in the crater of volcano Cotacachi, emerging as the center two islands. It has a diameter of 3 km (and a circumference of your .... calculetttes), with a pronfondeur 180m. We can go around (4-5 hours walking) and observe exuberant vegetation: wild flowers, shrubs, cactus, 10 species of orchids, red cedars, the totora (sort of rush used on Lake Titicaca to make river craft ...) The fauna is not left with armadillos, guinea pigs, birds, foxes and many others.
Twenty minutes walk from the center of Otavalo, we arrive at Peguche, small community famous for its waterfall of the same name.
We camped the first day in this enchanting place, giant eucalyptus woodland and an abundance of small streams to discover barefoot ...
A sweet and magical full moon, we have been fortunate and lucky to meet three angels Chilean artisans and musicians, David Alejandro Chapulin (Cristian) and Mauricio, with whom we spent the first week of sharing the casa Guevara, under the sign of the music.
This house is open to all travelers. We had a modest room with a mattress on the floor, a "fireplace" on the terrace for cooking and enjoying your evenings to discover the rhythm of the different trips from travelers.
We went to play music every day in restaurants and on the street, meeting and local musicians. These we have learned local folk songs, like the famous "Antonio Mocho" in Quichua, who has been worth the friendly locals.
For Christmas, the dozen passengers of the house that we were Guevara, is a family outing to the sound of drums, saxophone, guitar, Quena, voice and corazón, to accompany the Eve of the people we met, in joy and exchange.
It was a beautiful moment that has brought us closer to loved ones who are the other side of the Atlantic pond ...
The foo then we have found, accompanied by our dear Amelia, courageous and compassionate despite program changes inappropriate.
We decided to leave the beautiful valley music to celebrate the new year on the sandy Pacific coast, in Canoa.
Baths morning to play in the waves, contemplating aerial ballets waves flies, walks, breathtaking sunsets, music in restaurants and a gourmet New Year's Eve: a poissazon 6kg, caught the 'afternoon, chicken and meat cooked over charcoal, as Argentine parrillada ... and always magia de la Música!
It was short but intense with a return to Quito epic .. we do not recommend the night marathon of 10 hours in a van smell gasolina (gasoline), trying to sleep on a mattress coconut! Amelia will speak better than us:
"- I hate you, I did not sign for these holidays there!"
After many trips to come to Quito to Bogota to ensure the return of Amelia, a birthday party for twins quiteños (native of Quito), Jose and Juanito, a tamboreada (literally tambourinade percussion), a passport recovered, two friends who return to their own ways (thank you girls for those moments of pure happiness shared with you), we joined the peaceful casa Biker our good Tumbaco Santiago, where we waited for our bikes.
There, we met a young couple mochileros (travelers backpack) from Argentina, Sofía y Martín, stayed a month to change their mode of travel, ride their bikes with the invaluable assistance of Santiago, his professionalism, his generosity, his availability, his teaching and his entire buena onda.
He is currently helping 5 friends from Argentina, Chile and Brazil, to prepare their future travel by bicycle (in parallel with the workshop
Construbici in the same spirit in Quito full). It also plans to make a long way together (at least in Colombia) ...
Quito is a central place for cycling because much begin or end their journeys here. It's a real treat to listen to many stories that Santiago has to offer. A big hats off to this good man ... good good.
After 3 weeks break, we finally picked our bikes towards the British. It is still as strong and based both back on our faithful horses ...
Libertad!
was smooth again with 40 km of track cycling, old railway between El and Cumbaya Quinche ... a pleasure!
We find our small group routine: camping, bonfire, lying at 10, the report set the bike with the people (admiration, surprise, sympathy, compassion, encouragement and blessings ...) And a
suddenly you realize that for us girls, we are left with only 3 days and 200km before our visa expires. We Insure the numerical superiority of men for the 1st time travel, although "bravas" and "Gum" (c is something people say when girls are cycling or other things they No hoping not)
It made us realize and highlight some feminine traits, conversations, intimacy and habits that we tend to restrain free account when you are without a group.
That we really liked.
As usual, Ecuador does not have surprised the level height difference, in Collinette want you in here, dressed with a green in all these states, covered fields. We crossed the valleys with a feeling of incomparable strength, falling again and again on new surprises this valley completely inhabited by people of African descent, with their personal tellemnt way of moving, to speak warmly to people, but all in English of course.
Yesterday we found our cheapest foo.
Today we plan a summit to match the following events. We believe in starting a day or two in the direction of Pasto and the valley of Cali.
We send you lots of affection.
Take good care of you.
That wind is blowing in your direction!
soon
The Zarmaloulettes
