Happy Thanksgiving from Ecuador!

I didn't know what to expect when I knew I would be spending Thanksgiving in Ecuador, but Fulbright threw us quite the swanky Thanksgiving feast.

when we first walked in we were greeted with these adorable turkey pins!

there was lots of salad, which is always exciting here!

and then of course there were all the traditional Thanksgiving dishes

and WAY more kinds of desert than any one could imagine!

of course we tried to take a nice group picture...dysfunctional as always

and here are Chuckie's angels

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

A much needed trip for relaxing: A trip to Papallacta

  at fulbright we really can never take a proper picture...whether it is 730 am on a bus or not

This past weekend, right before finals, I was lucky enough to be part of the Fulbright Teachers' retreat. I say this because this retreat only happens once a year, so I really lucked out only having to brave one cycle before getting the royal treatment! :)

This year we voted to take a day trip to Termas Papallacta, natural hot springs turned resort about 2 hours away from Quito.

views from the road

view of the town of Papallacta

always swag for sale of course

my favorite sign...sometimes things get  bit lost in translation

 When we got there (around 9) we had the option to go for a hike. A few of us were wise enough to know that once we got into those springs we wouldn't be getting out, so we took the nice short hike.

start of the hike

amazing looking garden

once again...some translation issues....also the B/V confusion

view of the garden from above! yes I think I have finally transformed into the Vermont hippy my mother has always wanted me to be. I kept getting excited that we were in NATURE!

Now that I am in South America, I have become truly obsessed with llamas. Here is a small sample of the massive ton of llama photos I took.

I think this photo proves unicorns exist....
we were just confused by thinking they were horses
...this llama clearly had a horn

always a cross in Ecuador

follow the path!

GO!

mid hike break

and we're off again!

barbed wire so that you don't slip...I still slipped

and more llamas 

our trail

one of the pools

more pools

and again

After the hiking and the soaking in the pools it was lunch time. Typical almuerzo of course with soup, main dish, dessert and juice.

TROUT 

getting home this adorable tree greeted us in
the lobby

ahh yes, attempting to take a group photo

I promise to take anyone who comes to visit me to this amazing place :)