Catching up!

Hola! It's been a couple of days since I posted anything and I apologize! Time is slipping past me and we were so busy over the weekend! I have not been able to get pictures to upload yet, but we have been able to post to Facebook so I hope you're viewing them through that source. OK - Friday we made it to Papallacta and it was absolutely amazing! We were told that it was nice - but this was not nice - it was BREATHTAKING! On Saturday we went with Lucita and her friend Helen to Lucita's family farm. This time of year they have a soup to celebrate Easter - it's called fanesca. Made with 12 different grains (one for each of the apostles). It's a huge family gathering and the soup (fanesca) is served with fried bananas, empanidas, and bread. DELISH I tell you! Not only was the experience of the soup delightful - the entire experience was! The farm is well over 100 years old and is a working milk farm. One of only two here in Ecuador that produce milk for the country. The surrounding land is some of the most beautiful land I have ever seen! The lillies grow wild here and they are soooo tall! The farm was surrounded by gardens and so many different flowers and trees. GORGEOUS! Then there was the family ... so very generous to have invited us to come with Lucita - as well as welcoming to us! When we first arrived we mingled a bit and ate some snacks - olives, cheese, salsa and chips. Lucita's cousin Helena then took us on a tour of the farm. The calves were sooo cute and were each tagged with a birthdate and name ;) wish the pictures would post - but check out facebook and you'll see how beatiful everything was there. After the tour it was time to eat. The dining room was set with several tables and we were served at our seats. When dinner and dessert was finished - we were entertained by Lucita's friends and family. They played guitar and sang for hours. We have been invited back to stay in a couple of weeks. SO VERY, VERY, VERY KIND!