On retrospect, I think that this shaggy burro mystically appeared to lead us out of the Andean mist. (Photo by Marie Groff)
Ailsa’s prompt for this week’s challenge is Mystical. Before dashing off for the day, I wanted to share these images from a magical mystical Andean experience that brought tears to Marie’s eyes and to mine. Hank, the intrepid driver, most likely suffered from our same affliction!
(Ecuador) Driving along the back side of volcano Chimborazo, we endured kilometers and kilometers of ground-hugging fog. Since fog prevented us from seeing Cotopaxi’s snow-capped peaks, I continued to say, “I promise; Chimborazo should be on our left…” Aside from the occasional burro or lone person walking along the road, we endured kilometers of scenes like this.
Hank and Marie were surely wondering about their guide’s skills! (All photos by Marie Groff)
A few kilometers later I said, “Maybe if we ask the clouds nicely, they will lift. Please, please, dear clouds, won’t you please let us see Chimborazo?” I told them how I once asked the whales to appear and then made a raucous ‘whale’ sound. Within a minute, a whale breached very close to our boat as if to ask, “Who in the world made that horrid sound?”
We drove on in silence for another few minutes until Marie broke the silence with an exclamation, “Look! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh!”
We fumbled for our cameras and started capturing ‘fleeting glimpses’of Chimborazo’s snow-capped peaks. And then we rounded another curve…
“THANK YOU , THANK YOU , THANK YOU!” The beauty of the moment choked us with tears, and we kept thanking the greater power at work behind our mystical experience that got better with each kilometer!
Like children spotting Santa’s sleigh streaking across the sky, we were spellbound!
By the time we rolled on toward the city of Guaranda, the volcano had a new nickname.
Words failed us. We were no longer comfortably numb!
At 6,268 metres (20,564 ft) “Chimbo,” the highest peak in Ecuador and the farthest point from the center of the earth on the planet, will forever be branded in our hearts!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
How can one NOT have a good day after a mystical experience like that?!
May all of you have a mystical day/afternoon/evening! Z
Zeebra Designs & Destinations 
As the Good Book says, “Ask, and ye shall receive”! What a beautiful mountain, and a beautiful experience. Like so much in your world, I’ve never heard of Chimborazo – it’s stunning.
I suppose I should confess this truth, though… When I saw your first photo in the email preview of your post, I thought the creature in the middle of the road was – a rabbit! I guess I’ve seen the film Harvey one too many times, or have been exposed to more than my share of adults in Easter Bunny costumes!
I was heading out of the door more than an hour ago and saw this challenge and thought, ‘áh, it’s too good to put off until later!’
i am so glad that i read your comment before leaving! we saw rabbits but not in that area… we also saw llamas and other andean creatures as well! your comment gave me a good laugh before leaving for the day!
have a good one, amiga especial! as always, thanks!
Z
Exactly, I thought it was a rather mysterious Alice in Wonderland sort of rabbit coming out of the mountain mist ….until I read. Love the majestic mountain too!
Amazing Z!
Thanks! That sunset is still incubating.. The mini burro of the laptop is at the doctor’s, and most of the sunset images are there! Soon, Z
I actually made a drink last night. A sunrise of sorts and thought of taking a photo of it to submit as well…did not do it…but thought about it! Hope you get the laptop back soon! B
That would be a lot of fun. My friends and I were served a very pretty complimentary cocktail in Guayaquil a few weeks ago.. It reminded me of a tequila sunrise, though it was with rum and not tequila. Very pretty and very tasty, and no one thought to photograph the drinks.. . . or did we? ja!
Beautiful!
Thanks so much for your comment!
Z
Z – love the background music, an old favorite.
For sure! I recently told someone if i had to be stranded for a long long period of time and could chose only one music/artist, it would be pink floyd!
i’m glad you enjoyed it!
Z
I also thought senor burrow was a rabbit , actually someone wearing a rabbit costume..lol. Stunning images of God’s magnificent creations.
That is so funny, and I can see how it looks like a bunny! Dear dear burro; I wonder if he was ever wistful to become a bunny!
Thanks, amigos!
Z
Mystic angels take many forms – beautiful work!
Thank you, and thanks to Marie who took the great photos! I had the honor of editing them first!
Z
Love it…
Thank you so much! I appreciate your comment!
Z
20,000+ feet…that is crazy and I learned something new today with your tidbit about the center of the Earth.
si; altitude sickness usually follows me along the spine of the Andes! Glad you learned something new today!!!
Z
The Ecuadorian Andes are mystical. They really are and I believe it. Thanks for rekindling the memories.
Si, perhaps it is because it’s right there at latitude zero? The earth is magic too.. I’ve never seen vegetation jump out the ground from seed to a foot high a week after the first true rain of each season, but it happens in my gardens. Yes, it’s magic, and I’m so glad that you two have experienced it!
Z
It doesn’t surprise me. If you believe… Magic? Higher Power? Tada!
And cows too. :-D. Wonderful, magical, mystical shots.
Thanks, Gemma! Sometimes I think it’s important to have that childlike heart, and Life waves its magic want and says, “But of course!”
Z
Great entry and that snow capped volcano is something else! Wow!!!!
I love that area, but I always forget just how stunning it is until I see it in person again!
Z
Someday…I’ll have to go! So glad your friends got to see it!
Absolutely breathtaking view…magical and mystical.
you two will have to come back one day and visit other areas of the country! thanks! z
And THANK YOU! Wonderful. What a thrill it must have been!
I was amazed with the burro in the mist. Imagine how giddy I felt when I saw the photo of “Chimbo”. Great choice of music. Love Pink Floyd 🙂
Such magnificence! My heart skipped a beat when I saw those clouds lift after the sincere prayer…. Beautiful!
we were so joyful! it is always great to share experiences like that with friends, and we’ll cherish that memory for the rest of our lives!
thanks!
z
Truly mystical! What an amazing story and images Lisa!
I was so disappointed that we couldn’t fit in Ecuador on our trip to Peru and Argentina last year. Hope I get to experience this someday 🙂
Just the name conjures mystery and majesty in equal proportions – wonderful, Lisa 🙂
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Those are an amazing sequence of photos, some times things happen that take your breath away. I think it is because you are so in tune with nature it wants to show you its best images. A real moment to hold in your mind forever
i have had many mystical moments, and my heart always swells and my entire soul hurls thanks in all directions for the experience. i am blessed and will always treasure my gifts.
thanks! z
Superbly atmospheric.
Lovely photos and great story. Living near Mt. Rainier, we often experience thick fogs, and when we travel up, (Towards that or other mountains in the area) the slow lifting is seriously mystical, and different every time. I love the notion of Chimbo being at the equator, and the farthest place from the center of the earth – it reaches!
yes, the higher elevations of mountains hold a mystique of a mood. we’re swept away by the mystical beauty!
z
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Great post Lisa. It’s pretty funny that I just read this today. I am preparing a post about Machu Picchu, and I was doing a little reading about the Andes, and stumbled into this “farthest point from the center of the earth” statistic. You probably know this, but it’s because of a bulge in the earth in this part of the world. Anyway, under the heading of tectonics and such, do you have any active volcanos close to your home?
hey! ecuador has many active volcanos, but those are in the andes, far from where i live.
in the flatlands around manta, ecuador, is the lone icon called ‘montechristi.’ the small town at its base is known worldwide as the origin of the panama hats, and it’s still a bustling business. not far from that town is a round ‘piscina’ where volcanic waters bubble up and are routed into a larger pool. hmmmm, that made me wonder about ole sleeping giant!
the most active volcano that i know of is tungurrahua near the andean town of banos. it seems to always be sizzling, and about once a year it spits and spews.
costa rica, as you know, has the classic volcano arenal, but i have always loved that equally-classic volcano conception on isla ometepe/nicaragua.
i am told there’s a really ‘bad’ fault line near bahia de caraquez, an hour down the coast from where i live. the road is that area is always in disrepair; it seems to stretch and sag; i noted last week that the new highway will detour around that spot, but i predict another weak area will develop.
across the river from bahia is the town of san vicente. there seems to be another weak spot just north of town. they’ve been rebuilding that entire stretch of highway, so time will tell if they outsmarted mother earth!
thanks! i don’t cross paths with many people who are interested in fault lines, earthquakes and volcanoes!
About how high do you think you were when you finally saw Chimborazo? (I mean “high” literally as “at what altitude?”).