On Top of the World

Ryan and Ras would absolutely love it here and would be so proud of me for climbing the rock today.  It is the 3^rd largest rock formation in the world.  It is a volcanic rock.  I almost couldn’t make it all the way up.  There was a dangerous looking part of the climb that I had to get the nerve up to overcome.  Part of my fear was that I wouldn’t be able to climb back down because I would be frozen by fear.   I made it all the way to the top and felt like I was on top of the world.  On the way down my shoe slipped on a rock.  All of the dust makes the rocks slippery.  My right knee cap landed HARD on a rock.  It hurts a lot but I’m not letting it slow me down.  I was going to go running in the park tomorrow morning, but I am going to rest my knee one day since climbing the rock/mountain was every bit as hard or harder than a normal workout. 

After we climbed, we went to an amazing restaurant.  I had chile rel… (don’t know how to spell).  It was a flavor explosion.  It had dried fruit in it – so amazing.  They served pork rhines with dipping sauces instead of chips and salsa.  The view from the restaurant was the rock we had just climbed. 

Dr. McCormick had our tour guide buy me some medicine for my knee.  It is all natural and is supposed to help with bruising and swelling.  I took a picture of both of my knee “medications”.

After we ate, we went to a winery.  I ordered one glass of wine.  Everything here is so affordable.  My glass of wine cost approx. $2.50 in American money.  It was SO good – a cab malbec blend.  My professor’s 12 year old son, Patrick, was my translator during the wine tour.  He is an amazing kid.  I am glad he is here.  I was going to be in my Spanish class tomorrow by myself, but Patrick said he is going to class with me since he is off for a teacher work day.  I can already tell, I am going to miss that kid once I leave.   

This is our crew in the super fancy school bus we took around town.

I had to take pictures of the sign where we went to the bathroom.  3 pesos to pee and they hand you a rationed amount of folded up toilet paper AND the toilet didn’t even have a seat.  And the soap to wash your hands was some type of dry detergent. 

I am going to bed so I can go to the park before class and post to my blog.  This is truly the adventure of a lifetime only to be followed by an even bigger adventure of a lifetime.  I miss my family like crazy and I will never be away from them this long again.  I hope to call them from my professor’s house tomorrow.  I need to hear their voices.