Vacation in the Sierra

Hey friends!

It's been a few weeks since we posted last, but that's because we were on vacation! After Reconnect, our most recent Peace Corps training, we took a week off to enjoy the autumn-like temperatures of the Sierra, the mountainous region of Ecuador.

We started out in Latacunga, a chilly little city, where we ran into some of our volunteer friends who were kind enough to take us to Quilotoa, a beautiful caldera lake.

Isaac standing in front of Quilotoa.
Photo by Kirstie.

We made it to the bottom!
Photo by Kirstie.

Then we headed to Tilipulo, an old hacienda and monestary, found out we should have made a reservation, got semi-ditched by our tour guide for another tour, and then went on adventures by ourselves!!

This is a stick-up! Peter cheerfully points an antique gun at Isaac.
Photo by Kirstie.

Dani going to explore the scary monk grotto.
Photo by Kirstie.

We stayed a few nights in Lasso, near Cotopaxi National Park, at a great little hostel called "Los Volcanes." The name of our room was Tungurahua, a volcano in Ecuador that is currently blowing chunks. We got to sleep inside of an erupting volcano! We spent a day in the park and met two Germans, one who was in Ecuador visiting her host family from ten years ago and the other who is journeying down all of South America.

Cotopaxi was a little shy the day we went, but here she is peeking out from the clouds.
Photo by Kirstie.

It was a COLD day at Cotopaxi!

Lastly, we spent a couple of days in Salasaca with some old friends and got to learn a little about language, culture, and living in Ecuador as an American.

It was a busy week, but we had a great time. It was nice to get out of the heat, see some old and new friends, and remember why we love the jungle!

..Kirstie and Isaac..