Hope it's been a good couple months since I saw you! I am finally back in Santiago after some time at home in Charlotte and some traveling in Colombia and Ecuador with my friend Laura. I'd love to share some photos with you and answer any questions you might have about these two countries I visited.
Laura and I flew from New York to Cartagena Colombia at the beginning of February. We spent ten days on the northern coast of Colombia - hiking, learning new cities, and relaxing on the beach. The people of Colombia were some of the kindest and friendliest I have ever met. It is a beautiful, happy place!
Me in front of the entrance to Cartagena "Old Town," the colonial part of the city.
On a hike in Tayrona National Park
One of the beaches in Tayrona:
Colombians on a street in Baranquilla during Carnaval:
Playa Blanca (which means "White Beach") in Colombia:
Another shot of Playa Blanca:
Two men on the street of Cartagena:
A typical colonial structure in Cartagena. This city is beautiful!
In Ecuador, we spent all of our time in the mountains! It was much cooler and I nice change of pace from steaming hot Colombia. The indigenous people in the mountains of Ecuador are much more timid than the outgoing people we met in the Colombian coast, but they were equally as kind. Their traditional farming methods that we observed amongst the hillsides in Ecuadorian Sierra was very neat - one of my favorite experiences.
Children coming home from school in a village near Quilatoa:
People on the street near Quito, the capital:
Typical indigenous dress:
Me looking out over a lake in Quilatoa:
In a crafts market in Quito:
One of the many gorgeous views in Vilcabamba, Ecuador:
A friend we met along our hike in Chugchilan:
Picture from the bus window on the way to Chugchilan:
The inside of a cathedral in Quito:
Laura and me in Quito:
I was delayed in returning to Chile because of the huge earthquake that occurred on February 27. It was very scary. Although I was not there, I was quite worried about all of my friends in Chile. The hardest part was not being able to get in touch with people for several days because electricity and phone lines in Chile were all out. Thankfully, all my friends and their families are safe. The devastation in the South of the country, however, is terrible and there is still a great deal of need. I'm glad to be back where I can help in the cleanup and assistance efforts.
Hope you are all well!
-Shepard
