We reached the lake, called “bottomless lake”, on a long and winding road. https://maps.app.goo.gl/mUjN8P3vCt5zzDaLA (maps hardly find it)
We took a slow lap for acclimatization and altitude adaptation. Everyone was feeling the altitude, some experiencing symptoms like dizziness or headaches, but we had enough time to stay sane.
After a picnic, we drove back in what was then three cars.
Car 1 was called “the quiet car,” and it was where people mostly slept. I was the neutral car; some slept, some talked, some laughed. Car 3 was the disco/dance car. The driver was funny and wanted to entertain his passenger with “T-Pop.” Ludo contributed his part with Italian songs, and then they decided to have a spontaneous stop to take part in a ten-minute dance lesson led by the driver in a wide meadow.
We only made a quick stop at the hotel to freshen up, as the thought of a visit to the massage parlor was so strong that it pushed another dinner together out of the question.
When we arrived as a mixed group of five foreigners and three Chinese, the owner called in masseurs from his other two studios to treat us all.
The others started with a fully clothed neck/shoulder treatment while we sat in a room designed for about 20 clients, and I got a back massage with oil, in a private room. Now I’m more familiar with my tensions than ever before, even those hidden somewhere on the side of my back and until now undiscovered.
I hoped the treatment was only booked for 30 minutes, because after a while, my muscles told me it was more comfortable to live with a few tensions than to be so thoroughly kneaded.
