The following post features student writing.

Last Friday we woke up to a beautiful and refreshing day as we all pushed each other down to the work site in wheelbarrows. In the morning, we painted a roof for the bathroom in the community center and also helped the cooks make lunch. We had a fun car ride dancing to music and talking on the way to Chachimbiro hot springs. We attempted to go down the water slide and tried out each hot spring, from freezing to boiling water temperatures. We also got to have an ice cream treat and a great restaurant cooked meal. After a fun day, we all slept on the way back home ready for a fun weekend in Otavalo!

On Saturday we woke up excited to take on Otavalo! On the way there, we went to a bird park where we saw the Andean condor and other spectacular birds like American bald eagles and hawks. After the condor park and show, everyone was feeling a little hot, so our leaders took us to a beautiful waterfall called Cascada Peguche. We hiked to the top where there was a secret tunnel that led to a cave that led to a bigger waterfall. We had fun playing and swimming in the water. After a picnic lunch there, we jumped in the van and headed out to the Otavalo market where we purchased many items! We then hurried back to our hostel to meet up for a pizza dinner which was amazing! Then some of us went dancing with our leaders and got some more ice cream!

On Sunday we woke up in a good mood after some much missed hot showers and beds. After some chocolate pancakes for breakfast, Ana and Vince took us on a small hike in Mojanda around the two lakes with beautiful mountainous scenery, where we were surprised with Chinese food for lunch! After a fun and full weekend, we returned to Iltaqui ready for a great week ahead.

– Sydney M.