Everest 2006: ANDALUCIA EVEREST EXPEDITION: THE TRIP TO THE BORDER OF CHINA, BY HELICOPTER 

The Andalucia Everest Expedition purchased the last things in the calm Nepalese capital 

Katmandu, April 13, 2006 

Today is Holy Thursday, it is the end of the Nepalese year.  Tomorrow will be the first day of the year 2,063.  The expedition has used the morning to buy gifts for sponsors and family, prayer flags for the Tibetan base camp and the necessary things for the stay in Tibet in the populated and touristy neighborhood of Thamel.

The situation in the capital looks to have been stabilized a lot, although police and army are still omnipresent in the city and they force commerce and bars to close.  At eleven in the night there is only armed military police in the corners of the street.  In other cities like Pokhara the revolts and pro-democracy marches are still important. 

The lost barrel - with contents valued at more than 3,000 euros - is sadly still missing.  Today Huisa and Blázquez have lost more than four hours negotiating with Thai Airlines and Thamserku agency.  None of them has claimed responsibility for the loss and hours pass with the need to acquire the material for the high mountain.  The feeling is that of being lied to.  The members of the expedition will file a demand at the Ministry of Tourism, especially because of the bad treatment we got from Thai Airlines, and the one in charge, Kusum Khanal.  At seven in the evening they went to the specialized store "Tendi Sherpa" to buy high mountain boots, a feather mono and a sleeping bag.  A total of 3,385 US dollars and the worry of having to adapt new shoes on the mountain. 

The plan for tomorrow is to meet early with the three high altitude Sherpas in Thamserku agency and to prepare all the luggage to leave to the airport around 12:00 and then to board everybody onto a helicopter, the Sherpas and all the mountain and audiovisual material, food and luggage. 

Translated from Spanish by Jorge Rivera

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