Spring Break Highlights

Saturday evening I returned to Quito from an incredible Spring Break with friends and while I could go on and on with stories, I will save you some time by just giving the highlights.
6 cities, 6 provinces, 12 buses, 24 taxis, 2 planes, 1 ship ride, 4 rides from friends, and 1 horse...
Here's the map so you can trace my route around the southern part of Ecuador:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=212001233827929288438.0004bd4829e46246d2d90&msa=0&ie=UTF8&ll=-2.086941,-76.772461&spn=5.597087,9.876709&t=h&z=7&vpsrc=6
Quito --> Cuenca-->Loja-->Vilcabamba-->Machala-->Guayaquil-->Salinas-->Guayaquil-->Quito

And the highlights...

Meeting the grandson of a former Ecuadorian president who gave us an incredible tour of the church of Santo Domingo in Cuenca

Visiting Cajas National Park

 Visiting Ingapirca, Ecuador's largest Incan ruins

 Eating the best (but way oversized) pork ever (Loja's specialty is a pork dish called Cecina) - sorry any vegetarians out there but this picture is necessary to comprehend the size!

Visiting Vilcabamba, known as the Valley of Longevity for boasting having several residents that live to a very old age - we could see why because it was BEAUTIFUL, the air was seemingly perfect, and the weather stays a constant ~75 degrees all year round

Visiting an organic Bananero (banana farm) called El Guabo who we learned sells banana puree to Ben & Jerry's to make Chunky Monkey Ice cream

Visiting Ecuador's biggest & most populated city, Guayaquil and seeing the Guayas River via Pirate Ship

Going to the beach and specifically seeing the most western part of South America, a site called La Chocolatera which is a preserved area inside of a military base--because two currents meet there, we saw some HUGE waves and beautiful clear blue water

Coincidently taking the same plane back to Quito with La Liga, one of Quito's favorite club soccer teams!

Those are the highlights and after so much traveling in just 9 days, this Easter Sunday was indeed, a day of rest for me. However, I did enjoy going to an Evangelical Church in Spanish. It was wonderful to worship and sing in Spanish and I found myself understanding most everything. That said, I definitely found myself missing my family and home church this Easter. And because I did not have the chance to say it on Sunday I will say it now - He is Risen!