Saturday, November 29, 2014

The Most Incredible on the Edge of Glory

Ecuador! What an incredible country and it is definitely in my top five.   I am sad to leave but of course, just le my whole time here, my last days were incredible.

My mate Callum - we met in Arequipa - was passing through Quito for a coiple days so he booked into the hostel.  It is always nice meeting up with someone you have met along the way, a familiar face is always heart warming.
We hit up the Otovalo Market - o e of the largest open air markets in South America.  I was looking forward to it as its a big tourist spot and after all my time in Ecuador I still hadnt made it there.

I pictured it being like a flea market...you know, in a big open area like a fairground or something; instead, it was all through the streets of the town.  The streets were closed off and people popped up their kiosks, which filled the streets with colourful alpaca sweaters, bags, generic bracelets, hammocks - which I bought one and bartered for...in Spanish.  It was a lot of things that you can see in any market but it was still an experience, and....its a market, everyone loves a market!  We wandered the streets looking for everyhing but nothing, not wanting to leave empty handed. Finally amongst thr colours and generisism,we found this kiosk with gorgeous jewellery,  hand carved out of bone, coconut and different (currency) coins.  We spent an hour at this place, trying to decide what we wanted.  The owner was nice and we ended up be-friending him...infact, we felt quite protective of him.  A couple came up to the kiosk...she looked...the man started asking prices and wojld then say "muy caro" - to expensive- he continued to say it was plastic and could by it anywhere in Quito - everything of course being said in Spanish.  When Callum asked "De donde eres?" He ignored him. I said a few unkind words in English and we shooed him away.  We bought a few things after that ....if it was a scam to get us to buy it worked...but we know it wasnt, we were going to buy anyways

There were new volunteers - becauase Ale and Vane transferred to Cotopaxi - and they were awesome.  In just one week we became a little family.  We ate our meals together, hung out, drank together...the usual.  Sebastian and I would go oit for walks everyday and practice our Spanish which was pretty cool; we went to the park or the big statue and spoke as much as we could in Spanish.  I took 10 hours of Spanish my last week, which really helped me, now I just have to practice what she taught me.

My last day of classes my teacher gave me a box of chocolates.  Leticia - the one I had been tutoring gave me a pair of earings.  Carlos - one of the locals I worked with - wrote me a letter.  Everyone was making me cry.  Plus we had the most amazing group of people staying there that we all became really close with which made it harder but made my last night that much better.

Carlos and i dressed up for our wedding...fake wedding...dont worry.  He was upset I had to leave and that my visa was expiring and said he would marry me to keep me in the country so we planned a fake wedding which was only pictures and everyone getting drunk and heading to the club where we had a fringo corner on the dance floor.

My 10:30am leaving time turned out to be a little later as I was not up to par the next morning...I can probably use the word HUNGOVER to explain my situtation but there is no need to be specific, I prefer to say I had the vodka bug.

I still had to finish packing and everyone was coming to say goodbye, my managers, the cooks, guests even staff that had the day off...it was making it difficult and I was trying not to get emotional.  Living and working at a hostel is never easy to say goodbye to, I had spent three months at Wild Rover and this was almost two months and I didnt want to get attached, but Im a softy so of course there were tears before Jono and Bradey got me into the cab so we could head to Baños.

Back, to Baños.   I was pretty stoked, I love Baños so was looking forward to a quick visit before heading back to Perú.  The boysmade the bus ride interesting.  They had bought walkie talkies so Bradey sat a few seats up and when we needed to talk to eachother we would use them....and of course we had cool code names ...Maverick to Batman, this is Maverick calling Batman.  I was Goose.

When we checked into the hostel and got into our room, Jono decided that the only bottom bunk available was, his leaving the bunk above him or the top one by the door left for Bradey and I to fight for.  Rock, paper scissors is always a good way to help with decisions; I won which got me the bunk above Jono and away from the door.  Jono sat and gushed about is comfortable bed and kept saying I was closer to the ceiling making me closer to the spiders...which of course made me paranoid and everytime I felt something I jumped.  Between spider thoughts, our loud roommates and Jono's farting I didnt get much sleep. However, waking up to Jono having a spider in his "lush" bottom bunk made it all worth it...oh Kharma.

The night we got there we wanted to take it easy so we decided to go to the hot springs just under the waterfall...and relax.

Our jaws dropped when we walked in...it was nothing of what we were expecting.  It looked more like a communal bath then relaxing hot springs.  The baths were overflowing with people, the baths were manmade and the water was a murky brown.  We just stood and stared for a bit..."I paid three bucks I want my moneys worth," said Bradey.  We put on the swimming caps and headed to the roof to hopefully less crowded pools.   No such luck.  It was like taking a bath with strangers, the water made me itchy, I felt like I was in the Ganges River.

We just huddled in the middle making sure to have enough space between us and everyone else. We giggled at the situation, its moments like this that we travel for, to experience something local...even if we cant see if one of the kids have pooped in the brown water.

The next day  was a random day, which of course always turn out the best.  I wanted an adventure, so we rented an open top jeep with two other guys from the hostel.  We got directions to the jungle, hopped in the jeep and were off.

We drove out of town and followed the map to the bridge where we were suppossed to turn left and drive up to the jungle.  "Is this the right road, it seems awfully sketchy."  The road was windy, bumpy and almost too narrow for our jeep.  "Oh my god Jono please drive slowly, I don´t want to fall off the edge!"  My vertigo was kicking in and getting worse by the seconds.  "Ahh don´t worry, it´s fine...besides you wanted an adventure, you are living on the edge." Then he continues with "I¨m on the edge, of glory."  "Thank you Lady Gaga.  However, I don´t see any glory in this edge."  The boys checked the map again.  "It´s the right road.  Keep driving."  I was getting hit in the face with branches as I kept yelling at Jono to keep right.  "Its not Australia, you have to stay to the right." "Just keep reminding me and we will be fine."  "Gee that´s comforting."  The boys kept looking out into the scenery on our left which was a huge drop into I dont know what as I was staring at the stone wall on my right.  "Wow!  We are so high right now!"  Trust me, I didn´t need them to tell me, my vertigo was a constant reminder.

We came to a twist and a little decline.  We hopped out of the jeep and check it out.  There was a huge rock in the middle of the so-called road, which looked like it had fallen from the cliff above us.  "Now what?"  " We will turn around."  I looked at all four of them then at the jeep and the road that was barely wide enough to fit it.  "Are you kidding me?"  "Well there is no way we can get around that rock so we have to go back the way we came, we don´t have a choice." OH walking seems like a viable option right now I thought.

We had stopped in a part of the road that was a bit wider; a seven point turn and we were on our way back down the small road - which we found out later was the right road but was meant for bikes - and me in the back this time in between two of the guys, feeling a little more safe then in the front.

We drove around for hours through little towns, up more hills looking out at the incredible landscapes of jungle ridden hills with waterfalls.   We actually wanted to get to a waterfall and go swimming but we couldn´t seem to find one.   We even drove down a small road that we thought had a waterfall but it ended up being someones garden.

Driving around aimlessly wasn´t a bad thing, we ended up in some incredible spots which were great photo opportunities, though one of my photos was ruined as the guys thought it was funny to leave me in the middle of the road and drive away.  I took my camera away from my face and very slowly started walking the way they drove off, I rounded the corner, I hear their laughter.  They started driving backwards to where I was "Emmie, that was awesome!" "Yes, Im sure it was" Assholes!

Our aimless driving took us through this amazing jungle town.  The scenery, the gardens, the weather...honestly it was incrdible.  By this point I was used to the high windy roads and was sitting up on the back by the wheel with Bradey and Jono - sorry mum - all the while listening to Bailando,  Jono´s choice...my god we are such Gringo´s.  It was amazing - not the song - but just everything, the place the jeep, the wind blowing through our hair, the scenery and of course the people I was with...once again a random day turned out to be an incredible day.  

On our way back about 10 minutes from town Jono yells "the waterfall!!! Right there, turn around, go back!"  It was the waterfall all right...the waterfall we were at the night before with the hot springs!  "Well, at least it´s a waterfall!"

About two minutes from the rental place Bradey says "is this the right way, isn´t this street one way?"  "no its fine," we all agreed.  A woman in a street vendor started yelling "disculpe, disculpe es solo una via. Una via!"  Shit!  It´s only one way.  Five gringos in an open air jeep, driving the wrong way down a one way street with Bailando playing (again).  It looked even worse when we reversed and drove backwards now going the right way.

I parted ways with Jono and Bradey the next day.  Two other guys I met at the hostel in Quito were meeting up with me to head down to Mancora...yup it´s back to Peru.

I´m gutted to leave Ecuador.  I have had two of the most amazing months of all of my travels as well as met some of the most incredible people.   There are no words to describe the times, the adventures, the people and all the memories I now have...but maybe this will help.   Team meetings, canyoning, Bungalow,  Emmie I have Gatorade, Chanchito, Gordita, Tengo hambre, random days to the equator,  Sebastian taking me on afternoon runs,  Kiki Kiki Kiki, cama tiempo,  my freakout on the teleferiko,  getting robbed for a second time, mote,  locking Sebastian out of the room,  Cotopaxi, chasing llamas with Milo,  Mash potato,  fake weddings,  Chanchito´s horrible choice in music,  Quilotoa,  being on the 5 oclock news,  muggers corner,  Y.O.M.O - you only get mugged once, palabra, palabra ariba, Lesina´s locker of goodies, meeting up with my Mancora crew, Chanchito losing his stomach on the table at Bungalow,  Halloween - no words needed here, a rainy two days in Montanita but I guess the bakery made up for it, inside out, after hours in the staff room and of course all of you.  The Secret Garden is by far the most interesting hostel I have worked at.  It is chill and not party but has been the best place to meet people, and some of the greatest people at that.  I was suppossed to stay for two weeks and stayed two months which has left me with some of the greatest friends and the most incredible Ecuadorian family, a family that I was never expecting.  I´m sorry to leave but my time is up and I must float on...dont forget me and my heart will always be with you guys.

To my Quito Crew....love you x

Now it´s back to Mancora...bad or good choice?

                                                                                             - My Beautiful Life -









Friday, November 7, 2014

Quilotoa - A World of Our Own


The Quilotoa Loop.  Wow! What an incredible day.

A group of us at the hostel had been hanging out for a couple of days...all solo travelers and all pretty cool.  We kind of banded together for a few days, drinking, hanging out and doing day trips.  I got a few of them to sign up for the Quilotoa Loop - whichI had been wanting to do for awhile - and 10 people ended up signing up for the trip which meant I got to go for free! One of the perks of being a volunteer at the hostel.

We were up at the crack of dawn - some of them hungover - hopped on our bus and began the three hoir journey to Quilotoa.

We didnt drive three hours straight which was awesome; we stopped for a yummy breakfast to fill up our bellies, then we headed to a traditional home.

The people of these traditional homes live old fashioned, no electricity, they farm and live off the land all at an altitude off 3900 meters.  They speak Quechua - the old language - some speak only this language not even Spanish.  The children walk about 2 hours to school.  Its a tough life but they are happy.  Sometimes I think us Westerners have it all wrong, we have so much but yet it never seems to be enough. We are so spoiled in almost every aspect, we have technology that we feel we need and cant survive without, overflowing bank accounts which may not seem overflowing to us or have what we want as a sufficient amount of money but its more then these people will see in a life time.  We have cars, a house with bathrooms and a few
bedrooms, celebrities living in mansions for less then five people. We spend copious amounts of money on materialistic things which in ways make us feel more significant or accepted. Yet we never seem satisfied. Its never enough.  We are so greedy and take it all for granted.  Then there are these incredi le people who possesion wise, dont have much but their crops, their small handbuilt hut with no electeicity to house their family of 10 and of course their family.  They work in the fields all day with none of the modern facilities we consider necessities - toilets, showers etc. - yet they are the happiest people in the world.  We definitely went wrong somewhere.

We had a wonderful visit.  They aloud us into their home which was one room, no electricity, one bed - the chikdren sleep on the floor - and heaps of cuy (guinea pigs).  They are not pets, cuy is a traditional dish here...yes they eat them...and artwork from the children hung on the walls.  The simple life...makes me smile.

We stopped for pictures along the waywhich was great.  It was so nice to get awesome scenery shots instead of just driving by them.

The whole day was based on our time.  We took our time taki g photos and reallywith everything.  When we arrived in Quilota, the group waites as I of course had to go in the shop and by myself an alpaca sweater.  Its super warm and awesome...I figured if I wasnt payi g for the trip then i could bymyself a cozy sweater.  The group waited 20 minutes for me, I felt bad but was happy about my sweater.

Tanja and I were in conversation walking down the steps to the begining of the crater.  We werent really paying attention and then just stopped mid-sentence.  My breathe caught in my throat. "I feel like crying" Tanja said.  "Me too." I replied.  It was breathtaking.  A huge crater with an incredible lake.  I felt like Leo Dicaprio in The Beach... the magnificent beauty of a world of our own completely shut off from everything else...it was incredible.

We took our time going down.  Most of the group was way ahead of us but Tanja, Paul, Gerwin and I took our time taking pictures, climbing rocks for good photo spots, laughing and joki g around and walking down cautiously.  It was pretty steep and super slippery, Tanja and slipped and slidded down, it basically looked like really awesome dance moves.  "Vamos, vamos!" The guide yelled up to us at one point.  "We will meet you down there!" Paul yelled down.  Which we did awhile later, like I said, our own time.

We rented kayaks and kayaked in circles in the lagoon. It was so quiet, so peaceful...we cojld actually here the low tones of the guys voices who were at least 100 feet away.  We werent overly keen on going too far out...the boys did, at one point we couldnt even see them anymore. I hope they didnt tip. Fish cant live in these waters so I definitely dont want to be swimming in it. They eventually became small specks and then bigger, and then back to life size again.  We were wet when we got back to shore...there was water in the kayak so our butts were drenched...yuck...not comfortable...but well worth it.

None of us wanted to do the hike back up so we hired horses.  Yup more horseback for me.  My horse however was the leader this time.  Im not gonna lie, I was freaked.  Going up  a steep slippery incline, on a horse who likes to walk extrmely close to the unguarded edges is not the type of adrenaline Im keen on.
I did relax a little, and it was nice not to be 10 mnutes behind everyone...finally!

We laughed most of the way up.  I guess the altitude affects horses as well because the amount of farts that wers escapi g their behinds was enough to fly me back to Arequipa.  "Mine is farting a symphony back here." Paul said.  Poor horses...I felt bad that Enrique - my horse -had to carry my weight all the way up.  He got quite tired and had to stop for breaths.  I decided to sing to him .... Bailando by Enrique Iglasias...how perfect....sing to Enrique a song by Enrique...in Spanish of course.  Quiero estar contigo, viver contigo, bailar contigo, tener contigo una noche loca....Bailando...I thought it was great though not sure how Enrique felt about it.


We saw a tv crew on the way up..."oh look guys, we are going to be famous!" I wasnt lying either, they ended up interviewing me for the next nights 8 oclock news.  Man, I must've looked like the biggest gringo, alpaca sweater, beeds in my hair, a peruvian fanny pack, a multi-coloured peruvian scrunchy tying up my hair, and a knitted bag over my shoulder. Classic me. (Go to about 3:15 minutes)





We ate lunch, soup and then chicken with rice and jot oranje juice which is amazing by the way.  "I just have to run to the little shop." "Again" said our guide "what do you need this time?"  He sent me with his friend to his shop. I wanted patxhes and they didnt have any but  I felt bad so i bought a 10 cent bracelet for $1...oh well.

We stopped at a fruit market on the way back...i bought some avocado and took pictures of the chaos of what a local fruit market is like. " That lady just asked me to pay her because I took a picture of the food she is cooking" Paul said. "Did you pay her?" "No!" It was cow intestine, the food smelled delicious until we were told what it was.

We slept most of the way back...everyone was pooped, and I had to work when I got back, which resulted in drinks and goi f to the bar till 4 am lol.

Quilotoa was amazing.  These random days with new random friends are turning out to be the best days.  Hopefully this week will be the same as it is my last week here.

                                                         
                                                                                                                           - My Beautiful Life-

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

A "Special" Horse, Altitude and Skeletons in the Streets.

My week at Cotopaxi was awesome... I have no complaints... well except that I was exhausted by the time I got back and the altitude really affected me.  I knew there were wide affects but it was like my Misti Attempt excwpt I wasnt attempting anything.  I had a bad head from the altitude and the pressure from the overcast sky so I fought a migraine for my first day and a half. My head felt like a bowling ball making me want to roll it down an alley into a full set of 10 pins hoping to relieve some of the pain...even hitting it against a wall seemed like an attractive option, it made it so hard for me to function and help with guests so I just stuck to the basics; setting up for meals, cleani g up after meals, serving snacks, taking afternoon naps with Mash - one of the hostel Daschunds- and relaxing in the hot tub...like I said, the basics.

By the third day I was feeling heaps better, my head was still a bit wonky but I didnt feel like going bowling with it anymore.  This meant I could start enjoying the day trips Cotopaxi had to offer.

Horseback riding!!!



You all know how clumsy I am an that I have two left feet so me riding  on a four legged creature three times the size of me isnt that elegant....and I had the smallest one.

Her name was Freaka...and a freak she was.  She was like your average woman, idnt like taking commands and did things her own way.  She zigzagged up the cobblestone streets cuttin everyone off, she didnt want to trott, infact she didnt want to do anything at all.  Great, I have Forest Gumps horse.  Of course I have the "special horse"...the horse thatt the otherhorses dont want to play with.  Which seemed to be the case as the guys were out of eyesight now.   "Vamos Freaka, vamos."  Nada.  I have a har enouh time keeping up during treks,  I thought being on a horse would keep me up with the crowd...if ony I was so lucky.   Freaka decided she wasnt going any further and turned around.  "No Freaka...the othr way..vamos."   She wasnt listening and I was starting to get a little nervous.  Thankfully, the gide came to my rescue (and not for the last time that day) offering me his horse.  Bad mistake!  

This horse was crazy.  It was throwing its head from side to side, up and down and turnn  around in circles.  "Dispacio, dispacio"  said the guide.  "Im not doing anything."  Then, I hear a loud cracking sound and the horse takes off at full speed with me clutching on for dear life.   I was screaming,   was terrified, I hadnt been fitted for this saddle or stirrups which meant with every galloping step I slid from side to side while one of my feet flew out to the side.

I switched back to Freaka...this time I had more confidence and faith in her.  Again I heard a loud snaappoing sound and she was off lke a bat out of hell.  "Diiiiispaaaaaciiiiiiooooooo!"   I yelled begging her to slow down which she did when we fnally caught up to the guys.   She actually kept up quite well, she trotted along happily and when she herd the boys speed up she would to.  I constantly soke to her in Spanish and petted   her which really helped our relationship or at least it did until the boys got further ahead again.  She had an attitude of "well, if they are going to go ahead of me lke this then i am going to take my sweetass time."   Ughh what a girl.     Though things changed  when we got to the grass.

Wind blowing through my hair, miles of fielded landscape, a perfect view of Cotopaxi, the sun shining, calls of "yeeha a" and "woohoo" from the boys ringing through the air as we galloped at full speed through the hills.  It was absolutely amazing, and what a feeling of freedom you get riding a  horse....abolutely exhilerating.   We stoped for a snack and a rest. I was a bit stiff, my knees were slightly turned in makin me a little bowlegged and akward to walk but I made it to the view point   and enjoyed the endless miles of field that met with a perfect backdrop of Cotopaxi.

The boys and I raced through the field on our way back, Freaka and me of course coming in last...but I guess she was determined to gget a head because when we caught up with  the boys they were aleady stopped but she just kept on going....straight for one of tthe guys and their horse.  I thought she was going to switch directions ...."Emmie!!!! Pull on the reigns.   Pull!!!   I did.  She knocked heads with the other horse and then switched directions.   I was lucky it  wasnt worse, colliding with a horse 2 tiimes the size of my horse was not  something I wanted to experience.

The ride back was alright....once we were on the cobblestone she slowed down again resulting in the guys getting extremely far ahead.   She was going so slow that snails were moving faster.   I tried to get her to move faster but she would stop completely and then shake her head.  "Fine!"  Ughh.  She decided she didnt want to walk on the cobblestone and went ffor the grassy bits on the side....THROUGH TREES!  That were at my height...seriously!!!   I wated to get of and wlk her but she seemed agitated.   I was happy to get back to the hostel and relax....I was  sore and bowlegged but of course feeling great from a fantastic morning.

"Emmie I have 11 people wanting to go t the waterfall can you help me guide it please?"

It wasnt too dificult I was just a little tired.   I led it most of the way..well actually Milo (the hostel dalmation) did.  He runs off ahead an then he sits and waits for everyone, making sure they are all there and accounted for. I didnt do the last  bit  - the part wth the drop into the waterfall - Diego did it, I waited at the bottom with Milo who just hung out with me till everyone headed back down.  What a great dog.

On the way back, in the field next to the hostel driveway were a bunch of llamas.  They all stopped and stared at us.  I was trying to get clos enough t take a photo but they kept walkin away.  I saw Milo out of the corner of m eye "come on Milo!" I yelled and we both took off through the field chasing the llamas. AMAZING!!!  I sleept like a baby that night.

The next morning I was helping guide the Pasachoa volcano tour.   It started off good...nothing special.  Going up throuh the woods was a little difiicult with the altitude but then it leveled out for an hourrr which helped me adjust. One person turned back,  I should have as well going forward was dangerous and stupid and Im lucky I didnt end up worse off then what happened, but I was so determined to make it to the summit because Misti kicked my ass and didnt want that to happen again, but halfway through the hike the altitude really started hitting me.  I looked ahead at the dogs;  Milo, a mile ahead of us with his head sticking out of the grass waiting for us and Mash and Daisy (the daschunds) hoping through the grass like bunnies. Their legs are the length of my foot and there they are hoping around like rabbits...ughhh.  

Everything after that is a bit hazy. I know what happened but the
order of the way things happened is foggy as is the way I remember the landscape...hazy, dark and ominous.

My breathing was fine, it was my head that was the problem.  I was light headedand dizzy and my legs felt like they were 100 pounds.  "You look a little grey are you alright?" "I feel a little grey.  I just need to lie down."  Iremember everyone over me aski g me if I was ok "Im fine, go on ahead, the tour tomorrow will find me."  Someone gave me a sugar candy and o e of the guys linked arms with me to make the walking easier. "I feel like an old lady." "Its ok, I am a gentleman, I help all the ladies up the hill."  From this point on I remember struggling really hard, ,y energy becomi g less and less.  I fought my way to the top only to discover we had to go down and back up.  "I cant do this." I wanted to cry, but we had come to a point where we werent able to turn around. "Yes you can Emmie come on, small steps."  I tried but I was feeling nauceous.  I sat down.  Then I see the cutest face in the world, mash had come back to see if I was ok, but after another minute I had to sit back down.  I was losing my footing and stubbling because I was so light headed and I do t think I was doing anything to help myself, I was really out of it.  Simon took my hand and guided me up with his strength and Rika put her hand on my back to help me from falling and give me some momentum.  "Emmie, you can can sit on my bag and I can pull you up, I have the strength."  I looked at how bumpy it was and new in my condition I wouldnt ha e the strength to hold on. "Its ok Simon Im good to walk." "Ok, but our next resting spot is there." He pointed 10 feet away.  We walked and rested walked and rested.  I knew it was bad when all I wanted to do was sleep...I literally couldnt go any further, but they pushed and pulled me to the top.  Looking back it seems as though they dragged me but I know thats not the case. I got a big clap from everyone else waitig at the summit.  I was my own hero that day and gifted myself with a glass of wine when I got back.  Tje walk back was easier, except coming down I felt better except my vertigo hit then and I slipt in the mud a couple of times do to my lack of balance.  I didnt want anyone to know about my vertigo, I figured my weakness to the altitude was enough.

"Simon, I will be abig part of your journal today." "Haha ya, our Canadian tour guide...for sure."  When we volunteer at Cotopaxi we have to do the waterfall hike and Pasachoa. It was my first time doing Pasachoa and my last...Diego has no problems doing it and he was with us.  Unfortunately altitude will hinder me from doing things.  It was a horrible feeling, it was almost like having no control over my body but almost not caring.  There are a few more I want to maybe trybut I will have to prepare and if I cant do it turn around as altitude sickness can be extremely dangerous.

I didnt feel well that night.  I had a bad headache and could barely eat dinner. I felt fantastic the next day but then my breathing got bad that night to the point I almost couldnt breathbut it was my day to head back to Quito.  I almost cried saying goodbye to my little Mash (Potato) I wanted to take him with me.  i loved having pets around and being a cat person I didnt realize how fun dogs were...Mum I want a dog!

I was back in time for Halloween, which also was the same time as Day of the Dead. The  crazy sugar skull makeup and parties in the city was insane and the first night I had partied in months. You know it was a good night when it is a full hostel and only 10 guests make it for breakfast...seriously, I was hurting.  Day of the Dead is huge here, even the next day walking through the market in the park there were people walking around with their faces painted and some sort of zombie movie being filmed.

The adventures here are not ending, the next few days are filled with treks, kayaking, markets and well...you will have to wait.


                                                                                   -My Beautiful Life-

A hero on the summit