Tuesday, June 28th

Drum roll please…We made it to Quito safe and sound! Our first full day here was a fun-filled, packed day of touring the city and learning about its rich culture. We kicked off the morning at Parque Itchimbia where we enjoyed great views of the city and held our group orientation. We´re so excited about everyone’s positive energy and enthusiasm for our trip. We know we´re going to have an amazing time!

We then had lunch at a beautiful place called Cafe Mosaico where we ate as we overlooked the city. We were fortunate to receive a guest at lunch — a representative named Sylvanna who works for the Heifer Foundation, which has been instrumental in providing relief efforts to the northeast coast of Ecuador where the earthquake hit. Many of us brought needed items to donate and we are putting together a box of things to give to Sylvanna before we depart Ecuador.

Our tour of Quito continued as we climbed several thousand feet riding the Teleferico to witness incredible views of the city and valleys below us. We hung out for about an hour until the chill and altitude of 13,000 feet prompted us to return to lower ground.

Finally, we concluded our day with a cultural and historic tour of Quito through an organization called Quito Eterno. This nighttime tour took us through old colonial Quito where we got private access to the historic San Francisco convent and museum, and then led us on a walking tour that ultimately ended at the Plaza Principal where we enjoyed learning how to dance ¨San Juan.¨ Everyone learned and laughed a lot. It was a great way to end the night and a long day!

Tomorrow, we are excited to make our way to Chilcapamba, the village we will be living in and doing our community projects in. There we will have our welcome party and get to know our gracious hosts who we will be living with for the next two and a half weeks. I hear a pig roast is in order…pretty exciting!

Photos to come, so stay tuned. ¡Hasta luego!

– Jaimie & Blake