I am the figure on the left and the other girl is my friend Heather at La Laguna Yagyarcocha. 
I am in the southern Hemisphere of this picture while mi amiga Laura is in the Northern Hemisphere. This is at the equator or Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World).
We also got the chance to take a hike including a few scrambles with hands and feet to some waterfalls that we got to go swimming in : ) My friend Sarah is behind myself and Laura.
Laura and I took a moment to pose with some of our newly purchased clothing after shopping at the markets in Otavalo. While shopping we got to experience a downpour and the rush to set up more tarps to make sure merchandise didn't get wet. Besides the market with scarves and pants and jewelry and the like Laura and I discovered a nearby fruit and vegetable market which we spent a little time exploring before ducking into a cafe where we met some others in the group and drank coffee and tea and ate these nuts that are roasted with chocolate and sugar :) Later that evening we went to a local pizza place where a group was playing traditional music.
This is actually from our first stop of the weekend at some ancient Temple mounds. I can't remember the name right off but while there we got a chance to feed lamas :)
Just a shot of me with some of the countryside. Ecuador is a beautiful country from the vibrant flowers and majestic mountains to the friendliness of its people, however like most places the good is accompanied by pain and suffering. In my culture classes I have been learning more about the issues that Ecuador is facing. These include the past political turmoil, increase in crime, and the divisions among people even here within Quito. As an example Quito is a long narrow city. People living in South Quito tend to be poor, their is more crime, and the population contains many indigenous persons and darker mestizos. The further north you go in the city the whiter and richer the population becomes. Please keep me in your prayers as I continue to learn more about both the beauty and warts of this country and process how I interact with others here.
