Cotopaxi

We got to stay near the volcano Cotopaxi last week for a few days. It was such a relaxing, refreshing, and fun few days. We went on the most intense hike of our lives up to a waterfall where we had to climb over boulders, logs, and scale (small) cliffs. We also hiked up to the refuge on the volcano and then mountain biked down. Mountain biking is WAY scarier than I was expecting and I thought I was either going to get Shaken Baby Syndrome from how bumpy it was, or fall and roll down the side of the mountain. Luckily neither of those things happened, and we made it safely to the bottom where it started hailing with thunder and lightning. Thankfully our hostel had a hot tub and a fireplace and a HOT shower so we got to go home and warm up and relax after the ride. I will post more about Cotopaxi soon, but for now here are a few pictures of the beautiful views from our hostel. 

Staying at this hostel was like going on vacation to the mountains with your family. We all spent our days doing various activities and enjoying the beautiful nature all around us, and then came together at night to eat our meals together at a long wooden table and finished the nights curled up on couches reading next to the fireplace. We met amazing people and thoroughly enjoyed the abundance of warmth (ie. fireplace, unlimited coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, HOT showers!, a hot tub, and even a fireplace in our room).  I think I took a three hour hot shower to make up for three months without hot water ... ok, that's an exaggeration. But I really was in heaven being able to take a real hot shower!