To the End of the Earth, Guardrails Optional

Monday we had an unexpectedly (at least for me) amazing afternoon on a farm perched on top of a mountain outside the town of Tandapi, about two hours outside of Quito. The journey was harrowing to say the least; as we ascended up the mountains our driver Moazir told us we were about to enter a highway where there is an accident everyday, and soon we saw why. The fog was so thick we could barely see the vehicle ahead of us or coming toward us until we were passing it. I was already gripping the sides of the car, and I probably would have gripped even harder had I known what the drop-offs were on the sides of the highway. These I didn't see until we descended some out of the clouds, through some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever driven through in my life. I couldn't put my camera down, but the pictures don't hold a candle to what driving through the Andes was really like.

Worst job ever

Notice the road clinging to the sides of the mountain, 1500 meter drop below

After driving for what felt like forever, we arrived at the tiny town of Tandapi, consisting of about half a mile of stores and houses on either side of the road. Small-town living, that's for sure. 

 What was even more isolated was the dirt road we turned off of to get to the farm. We had four-wheel drive vehicles, and ascended up most of the mountain, but due to the mud we had to walk the rest of the way; I was glad for the chance to stretch my legs. We had entered into a sub-tropical climate, and it was wonderfully warm and humid (I have a cold at the moment and it was so wonderful to breathe in air that wasn't dry as a bone as in Quito).

Pepe, a researcher with INIAP, guided us around the farm showing us a variety of projects. They are working on breeding disease-resistant naranjilla plants, as well tomate de arbol and mora. It is a very detailed project, involving grafting many of the plants and keeping track of hundreds of different varieties. On the sides of mountains. All of my preconceptions of farming were destroyed yesterday- the fields consist of planting on the sides of mountains in the forest. Elbow grease required, a lot of it.

We continued up the mountain, making acquaintances with Camilla and her dogs. Camilla was more welcoming than the dogs. 

Three generations of the family live there, working and farming together. They sell their products in  boxes down the mountain at Tandapi at a wholesale-type market and the fruit then proceeds to Quito. They were hardworking people, taking care of sheep, goats, chickens, naranjilla, tomate de arbol, mora, and probably more that we didn't see. They had a little piece of heaven it seemed to me up on the top of that mountain, simply amazing. 

Our time is winding down here in Quito; a couple more days of school, and talk of spending a day in a cloud forest reserve on Saturday. It was pouring the rain this morning, so we had a welcome break from running, which will hopefully help my cold. Upcoming soon, hopefully a post with some more pictures of la gente, and our adventure eating cuy. Muchas gracias to everyone that's been reading- I'll hit 300 pageviews today!