It was in early 1990's that I spent 3 months in Ecuador. I had just passed my
real estate exam in Sonoma County California. Before any serious ownership-type of commitment, I explained, I ought to live my life in reverse. This meant travel, travel, travel without itinerary nor schedule. Why not?!

I was only in my early 30's then. It was a retirement lifestyle before serious ownership responsibilities. My choice may have been a surprise to many there in one of the nicest places on Earth to live as an outsider. I am sorry that most of the Calistoga Spa area recently burnt down to a crisp along with all of Napa. I joked from here on Maui that it must be the 'grapes of wrath'.

News reports of Sonoma's crisis in rural ownership brought back memories of when I lived there in the early 90's. My entry on mountain-forecast website secures my statement on this comment page. I see Cotopaxi Volcano's own surprise eruption in 2015-16 as worth considering. Maui, after all, has our Haleakala Volcano summit as latent as Cotopaxi had been.

Climbing Cotopaxi on whim took place after I had acclimated for two months in higher regions of Ecuador. It was not a sunrise for me to access. Guides of intrepid and knowing ways drove us up to the refuge at 16,000 ft. After a
rest in the evening, we started our climb at around 1am with full hiking gear and ropes. Altitude sickness ended my climb after an hour and a half. My
hiking group companions continued to the summit. 'The most painful thing
ever accomplished' they confirmed.

From afar, Cotopaxi does resemble famed Mt. Fuji in Japan. The volcanic and natural preserve area may serve similar purpose in science broadcast. When
Cotopaxi erupted in 2015, news reports on the internet showed find photos from Japanese digital science news release. Many are now not to be found online since then. Simulated versions exist on Volcano Discovery website.

Ecuador's volcano peaks are numerous. Each area has its own sort of culture and tourist guide turf. Arigato to those in Cotopaxi for securing any of the id fraud contact made by imposters who tried to imitate me from West Coast.
After a drive up and down Cotopaxi, fine freshly baked pies from Otavalo's
Cafe was a necessary treat, or maybe it was a filet minon dinner in Quito
that was so satisfying.