Standing on the Verge

Since our last blog post, we have traveled into the Amazon region of Ecuador where we´ve continued to learn and explore.
We have hiked through the snow (yes! snow on the equator!) on the Cotopaxi volcano, visited several beautiful, remote waterfalls, soaked in the Banos hot springs and gotten to know each other even better.
Now we have arrived in Puyo, the gateway to the Amazon, where we spent a day playing with monkeys and meeting up with our jungle guides. We are headed to jungle lodge where we will escape from civilization for a few days to enjoy the natural wonders that the Amazon has to offer.

Karen continues to be a huge help to everyone, helping us communicate with the locals. She braved it through the snowy weather and made it to the Cotopàxi mid-mountain refuge.

Clarissa also pushed herself to reach the highest altitude she´s ever been at on Cotopaxi. She is taking in all the Ecuadorian wildlife and constantly uplifting the people around her by helping out with chores and keeping a positive attitude.

Sarah is hitting her stride and feeling more comfortable each day, getting a feel for the Ecuadorian culture on our first Magical Mystery Tour in Banos.

Chris always has fun and makes the best of situations, Whether it means getting soaked to the bone hiking behind a huge waterfall or trying some local melcocha, he is game for any new experience.

Carol had to fend off a monkey that attempted to steal her glasses yesterday. Her upbeat personality has helped energize the group and allowed her to have several unique interactions with the locals.

Harrison is the outdoorsman of the group, and so far has experienced everything from having a Boa Constrictor around his neck to fishing lunch out of a small pond, with a little bit of knitting on the bus in between.

Joe proves his leadership skills through organizing the group and making sure everyone is doing their part—in between making jokes and telling hilarious stories.

Will is in his element during group meetings. He often adds insightful comments and helps raise the level of consciousness. He is enjoying the local culture and looks forward to more interactions.