Breakfast:
Our huge group was divided into two groups for this day so that we could all get to be less rushed and crowded at our various stops. My group was the one who got to wake up a half hour later but it didn´t really matter because I was in the room with Hilary and Nicole who were in the earlier group. We went down to breakfast where we were reminded about the power going out because of our candle-light breakfast. The breakfast was delicious, as always, and included pancakes with fresh strawberry's, cantaloupe and bananas on top.
Stop #1: Indigenous house of musical instruments
The first stop of the day was to an indigenous man´s home where he makes and sells musical instruments. We all sat down and he did a demonstration of how he cuts and ties bamboo to make really awesome flutes. He also makes other instruments that i have no idea what they´re called, but they sound so cool. Mom, you would love it. After putting together his small flute, I believe it was his two daughters that came out to join him. They sang and played different instruments for us...I could have listened to it all day.
After the musical demonstration, we were able to look around, try out the instruments and then buy some if we wanted. The man made it all look so easy to play them but really it is a skill. A lot of us had a lot of trouble with the long horn instruments but it was hilarious trying. I did end up buying one of the flutes and I´m hoping Dad can play it since he knows how to play the harmonica. :)
Stop #2: Indigenous house of wool and weaving
There was another indigenous couple that we visited next, but this couple did weaving. Again, we all sat down and watched their demonstration. They each sat in front of a huge bag of wool on the cement ground with a wooden tools that had wire attached like a brush. The man would comb out the wool in between the two brushes until it formed a soft rectangle of material. he then would pass it to his wife who would follow the same process but formed the sheet into a thin strip. When two of the girls from our group went up to try, they struggled trying to pull the brushes in the same way. 
The next part of the demonstration was turning these little strips into yarn. What? I still don´t understand how it all works but it did. The man walked over to his spinning wheel where he would rub two ends of the strips together and have it be pulled tight from the rotating wheels. The strips instantly turned into yarn that was being rolled up on the spindle. Somehow it´s that simple. He then showed us how he would weave the yarn to make huge blankets, fuzzy sweaters and beautiful tapestries for on the walls. You would be surprised how much work it all takes. I was worn out just for watching. Today, there are easier ways of doing this but he and his wife decided to continue doing what they know how to do. I think they are they only people who still do it this way around here actually.
If that didn´t surprise me enough already, I decided to ask the man a few questions and his answers amazed me. This man is 83 years old. He has been doing this business his entire life and doesn´t seem to be planning on stopping anytime soon. He actually told me that he has been doing this EVERYDAY since he was only 7. I can´t even imagine. The sad part is that they don´t have any sons so there isn´t anyone who is going to continue when he can´t anymore. However, they do have at least one daughter and granddaughters. The granddaughters were playing with some kittens in the room next door, aww.
Stop #3: Waterfall
Ahh! My favorite part of the whole weekend. This waterfall is important to the indigenous people because it is el agua de vida y energía or the water of life and energy. We had to walk a little ways through the woods to get there but it was worth it. When we arrived at the waterfall, we saw a man walking up the river right towards it. When he stopped and lifted his hands, I realized that he was there for spiritual reasons. We all watched for some 5 minutes as he stood there like a statue. When he was finished, he washed off his face with the river water and left.
Now it was our turn. Okay, maybe not like that but we were able to go to a smaller waterfall that was above that one. Daniel gave us two options to get there: one, walk on a trail or two, climb up a muddy and steep slope. Up we went.
When we made it to the top, we had to walk upstream through the stream to get to the waterfall. At that point, it was chilly out with no sun and we all were reconsidering our thoughts of going under this little waterfall but we continued. Everything there was so pretty and clean. The rock walls on both sides of the stream were so high it was like we were in a cave. The water was cold but one by one we walked ourselves under the stronger-than-expected waterfall.
It was time to move on to our next stop and so some of us wanted to change into dry clothes. Daniel Bryan said he'd go be on the look-out if we wanted to just change where we were. He and the guys left and us girls started changing and were in the middle of changing when Daniel warned us that there were little boys trying to get back to where we were to go the the waterfall. Before we knew it, three boys were standing there asking us questions while we were just pulling our shirts on. Good job with the look out, Daniel.
Stop #4: Condor Park
Did you know Ecuador's bird is a condor? Me either until this day. There was a beautiful park set up for SO many different birds and we were even able to see a bird show. One of the birds took off, flying around the audience and out over the ledge into the valley...I don't really think that was part of the plan but he eventually came back. A celebrity lives at this park actually. Hedwig, the owl from the Harry Potter movies, lives there. (Well, one of the many that were used.)
Hedwig himself
Stop #5: Volcanic Lake
The final stop of the day and of the trip was to this volcanic lake that formed. We just sat there looking at the clouds move in, reflecting on our weekend adventure. It reminded me that I am in an area where volcanoes are everywhere, dormant and active volcanoes that formed Ecuador into what it is today.
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