¡Nuestra Aventura!: ¡Feliz Navidad!

Yesterday we had the most beautiful sunny day! We went for a walk with some friends to a nearby park that we recently discovered. The park is near a river with nice trees, and it's smaller than other parks, so we had it to ourselves! The guys climed a tree and I sat in the sun to read and chat. It was so nice! Such different weather than back home on Christmas Eve! Then we walked to the mall to do some last minute shopping, and stopped at a frozen yogurt place, which insisted on taking our picture with Santa. It was hilarious because just as he was snapping it, this fog machine shot out fog right behind us for the photo! Can't wait to see the pic hehe!

After our last day teaching at Albany School, Mike and I were invited to a Christmas celebration with all of the teachers for dinner. It began at 5 and ended close to 11. It was a really nice time, and we had an amazing traditional Christmas dinner with turkey, rice with raisens, cole slaw, potatoes, and peaches with icecream. We played games, prayed together, and the principal went around the table and told everyone individually what she appreciated about them this year. The most different part about Ecuadorian parties (that I´ve experienced) is that they wait to eat until the end of the party.

We also celebrated Mike and Kassidy's birthdays with a family and volunteer party. (They both have their birthdays on the 27th!) It was a surprise for Mike, so I was being sneaky all day with our host family to set it up. They got them a yummy cake, and we played many of Wilson's games all night! It was a great time! Before the party, we exchanged gifts with the family and had a special pasta dish with steak! We will really miss them!

The day after Christmas we went to Pim´s Restaurant, which is right next to the Panecillo virgin statue and looks down on the whole city of Quito. During Christmastime they have huge lights set up around the statue that is sort of like a Nativity Scene. From afar they look small, but up close they´re huge! I guess everyone had the same idea to wait until after Christmas to see it! There was so much traffic on the road going up that it took us an hour and a half to get there, when it usually takes 10 to 15 minutes! It was well worth the wait though, and we even got to have dessert at the restaurant! On the way back down we hitched a ride on the back of some locals´truck. ¡Las adventuras en Ecuador!

Here we are with our chocolate egg gifts!