Ok so I know it has been FOREVER since I´ve updated but I have been pretty busy... I have about 4 major trips I need to update you about.

First... A few weeks ago I took a trip to THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS with the IES group. I can´t even start with how amazing it was. We went to four islands: Isabela, San Cristobol, Floriana, and Santa Cruz. The first day we arrived early in the afternoon so after settling in to our hotel rooms, which Nashawn and I shared with a broken AC and a large extended family of dead bugs, we headed out to hike up to a lookout of the islands. On the way there we walked by a dock where we spotted our first sea lions! It was so cool they were so close (but little did we know we would be swimming with them in days to come). We continued on our hike and along the way saw many lizards. We reached the top of the lookout and it was a beautiful site. We just amired the view for a while before we headed back down. At the bottom there was a museum explaining some of the history of the islands and evolution of the FINCH (loooove ittttt :)) Emily (from the other IES group) and I walked through it pretty fast and found ourselves a spot in the woods to sit and relax out of the sun. Apparently though we didnt hear the rest of the group walk out and they were waiting for us for about 10 minutes...oops. On the way back we stopped at the beach and met up with the rest of the groups (we split up into 3 for the week). The water was surprisingly colder than I thought but because of the heat it was extremely nice. Everyday we were there was about 100 degrees F. Laying in the sand and rocks at the beach were a ton of sea lions who made the best noises haha. After the beach and dinner we returned to the hotel just to relax on the hammocks! The next day we boarded a boat to go to some of the inhabited (by humans) islands to go snorkeling. It took about an hour to get to the island and it was such a nice day (this is were I turned ten shades darker). I love boats! It is so awesome to just be out in the middle of the ocean. Oh I love it. So then we went snorkleing and swam with the sea lions. We saw tons of colorful fish as well. And a turtle! On the island were blue footed boobies and frigit birds. Then we went to another island and did some more snorkleing. I had to get picked up by the boat cuz I couldnt keep up haha. Then we stopped at Floreana for lunch. We were only there for lunch but the flowers were gorggg. hence the name. We were greeted by a cute little pinguin on the dock! So cuuute! Actually I think we went to lunch before snorkleing again. But whatever after that we arrived on the next island and we at night after dinner we went to the beach where there was a little beach fiesta going on with good music and food and all that. It was very fun... Laura did a dance contest and WON!!! It was really funny. The next day we got up and climbed the sierra azul crater and volcano Chico. It felt like the longest walk ever 16K ( I think thats like 10 miles) to the center of the volcano. But it was amazing. It was such a different site than I have ever seen before. I have a video of it :) After the hike we stopped at a campsite for lunch. They had the best food ever. Then we headed of to the next island, Santa Cruz. On the way there we revolted and jumped off the boat in the middle of the ocean for a quick swim because we were SOOOO hot and just wanted to swim. It was so fun!!! Then we got to Santa Cruz and spent the night down town where Carnival activities were going on so to avoid getting hit with a water balloon or foam we walked down the dock and saw giant pelicans sitting in the trees. The next day we walked through the Darwin reserve and saw Lonesome George...for those of you who dont know who he is... he is a giant turtle and the only one left of his species... he has girlfriends but its just sooo hard for a turtle to reproduce. That dang shell gets in the way. Then we went to the caves! It was fun walking through a cave because I have never done that before. Then we went to another place were we walked through the fields and saw more turtles. We spent the night again down town dancing salsa. Then we left but none of us wanted to go...

When we got back to Quito we had school and it was boring but then on the weekend Rebecca, Jaimee, Humberto, and I climbed Cotopaxi. Unfortunatly at this time I was terribly sick with parasites in my stomach but I didnt know because I hadnt gone to the hospital yet. I climbed anyway despite the extreme pain. I decided not to take the bike down though because by the time we got back down the the parking lot from the refuge I was in more pain. Cotopaxi was really pretty though... but cold. It was a nice mountain to climb. Cotopaxi means neck of the sun in an indigenous language because when the sun is setting it looks like the head and the mountain is its neck. I think thats cool.

The next weekend we went to the Amazon!!! It took us almost a full day to get there. First we took a plane to Coca then from there took a short bus ride to the Napo river. From there we took a two hour motorized canoe ride to some area were we passed through customs and got on a CHIVA!! haha a chiva is described as a wooden truck without windows. So that ride was about another two hours until we got to another canoe which we road for another two hours. We were really in the middle of the rain forest haha. We got there and saw monkeys!!! They were right outside of our cabin. Oh we were at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station... its a research center that is part of my Uni. The next day we went on a hike through the jungle and climbed a terrifying 45M (approx 150 ft) canopy tower. But we saw a lot of birds, a poison frog, and lots of insects. We also ate lemon ants ahah and made rubber from a rubber tree. In the afternoon we went on a boat ride down the river and swam in the Tiputini River. All the while singing Disney songs... of course Pocahontus´s Just Around the Riverbend. hahahah. At night we watched a slide show of alll the animals we usually can´t see. They have a bunch of hidden cameras set up that take pictures of all these animals like Tapir´s, Cougars, wild dogs, ect. It was really neat. The next day we went on another hike to another canopy then we took a small canoe on a tour... we saw these really crazy birds that kind of look like turkeys but make noises like they cant breath. We also saw a turtle, really cool blue birds, electric blue butterflys, and a caiman! Then we hiked back to camp and saw a poisonous snake and a lizardy thing. Then after lunch we hiked to another canopy tower which had bridges... too scary for me... I walked one bridge then turned around and stood on the platform. haha. Then we watched the sunset.. Really pretty. That night we took a night hike and saw a lot of crazy insects. It was so fun. We also dyed our skin with this fruit that turns your skin blue. The next day we took the same trip back to Quito.

QUILOTOA!!! last weekend Rebecca, Janna, and I went to the amazing laguna crater. On the way up we stopped at Papagayo and met this girl Kelly from Canada who went with us. Then we continued on and stopped at this indigenous familys house made of mud. It was one tiny room for the family of five. Then we arrived and hiked down to the laguna and went kayaking!!! so fun!! Then I took a donkey back up cuz I always wanted to ride a donkey. That night we went into town and watched an Ecuavoli game (ecuadorian volleyball...its a lot different). Then we went to the hostel and met some really cool British people. The next day we started on our 5 1/2 hour walk around the whole crater. It was soooo tough!!! there were about 5 different terrains it was intense. We picniced about half way through for lunch and it was so special for me to sit up there with that amazing view. It was also accomplishment when we finished because it was up and down up and down the whole time. It was really a tough hike but sooooo worth it!!!!

Now I am back here in Quito...ew. hahah

On Monday and Wednesday at volunteering the kids were so cute. I freaken love María. There is this other little girl who was there monday and we were dancing haahha .

This weekend we are not going anywhere so I think I´ll get started on writing that article for Lingua Franca...ahh... But on Sunday some of my amigas are going to come over and watch slum dog millionaire because my host dad already baught the pirated version :) woot.