image image image image image image imageHello everyone! We started off our Sunday Fun Day with breakfast at Cafe del Tren before heading off to Pailon del Diablo, a beautiful waterfall a few hours from where we’re staying in Riobamba. On the way there, we had breathtaking views of the mountains and got very close to the clouds – we even drove through a couple of them!

When we got to Pailon del Diablo, we had a long downhill trek ahead of us, but we all managed and finally made it to the waterfall (and we definitely all got a good workout out of it). Everyone mustered up all of their courage and maneuvered through the caves that led to the top of the waterfall, which was well worth the climb. We all got very, very soaked by the waterfall, but luckily almost everyone brought a change of clothes!

After another strenuous hike back up the trail, some Glimpsers took a break to shop in the small marketplace at the top of the hill. We all eventually met up at a small cafe to have a delicious lunch of rice and chicken, but the real star of the meal was the empanadas from the cafe. Some favorite flavors included chicken and cheese, chocolate and blackberry, and chocolate and banana.

Everyone was tired out by the time we got back on the bus, but we still enjoyed the lovely views on the way back to Riobamba for dinner at Roma Santa. We prepared ourselves tonight for tomorrow’s activity of “Living Like a Local” by learning more about the lifestyle of rural Ecuadorians and we have started our 24 hours without electronics – we’ve already survived without our phones this long, so I think we’ll manage.

This is the part where I get to do a shout-out to my friends and family. (I feel a bit like one of those people on the news who jumps behind the newscaster and frantically waves while pulling funny faces and mouthing, “Hi Mom!!!”) So, first off: Hi Mom!!! Second, hello to all my friends and family – I miss you all so much and can’t wait to tell you all about what I’ve been up to in Ecuador! Happy belated birthday to my lovely sister Abby and happy early birthday to my first-cousin-once-removed (?) Ben!