The last week in Kamala was a crazy blur and super busy! Lots of fun but also, really sad. I'm really going to miss Kamala and definitely all the fantastic people I've met and the great friends that I have made. I really hope to keep in touch. I've pretty much decided I want to come back to Ecuador ... I just have to figure out a way ... it certainly is quite far away from Buenos Aires!

In our last week in Kamala we got up to a lot ... the craziest of which was probably heading in to Santa Elena (about an hour away) to a free open street Christian Castro concert on the Wednesday night. This guy is from Mexico and mega huge in South America. A bunch of people were going from Manglaralto so they hired a massive bus to take basically the whole town in, we jumped aboard for the adventure! Everyone seemed to be quite surprised , and a few concerned, that we were actually going in the first place! I think I figured out why, we were definitely the only white people in a town that was completely packed out for this concert ... there was no room to even breathe it was crazy! A great little market set-up though where you could buy almost anything and lots of yummy food! We got there pretty early (well actually a bit late but early by Ecuadorian standards) so we went to stand at what we thought was the back so we wouldn't get too crushed. By the time it started and we looked behind us we realised ... we were pretty much near the front! It was such a crazy cool experience to do something particularly local, the music was interesting too ha!

The last couple of days of course went really well, were quite busy finishing off last assessments, doing last teaching practice and a couple of farewell type parties thrown in for good measure. I really enjoyed the course and really felt like I learnt a lot, I'm actually kinda disappointed it's all over now ... would like to keep teaching the students at Kamala. Kind of scared about getting a job in the real world but, have a month yet of travelling and really looking forward to how many options of places there are - I really need to find a job though!

I also went back to Salinas for a little bit on my last weekend on the coast with a couple of friends. I was hoping to find some sun further south but alas ... it still did not eventuate! I did manage to get out on an awesome sailing boat though and even see some Whales which, was no less incredible than last time. Didn't have camera this time though! It was also my first time away from any native English speakers and although most of the people I was with spoke English in varying degrees .... Spanish was generally the chosen language and there isn't anything like being completely surrounded by a language properly for the first time to make you realise that ... wow, I really don't know anything - have to make so much more of a conscious effort to not be around English speaking people and learn!

On Monday morning we headed south and in to the highlands, Cuenca. Sarah lives here and Kristen just got a job here so is moving here so I really wanted to check it out as a potential spot to come back to. Was great to have just a couple of extra days to hang out with them and chill out in a different place in Ecuaodr, Sarah has a great house on the outskirts, some gorgeous little girls for neighbours who spoke no English but were so cute and came over to play alot and, Sarah also made us some epic food - was a delicious and welcome change!

Cuenca seems like a lovely wee city, driving over the Andes coming in to it was absolutely gorgeous and I really like these cities set in the mountains, they're gorgeous. Unfortunately, I think I ate some bad chicken in Salinas and I have been really quite ill since I've been here and haven't been able to get too much, like the ruins or hot springs. Did manage a wee city tour though. It's a quite attractive city, very Spanish type again, narrow streets and cute colonial style buildings. The main park is really nice, has a church either side - one old (480ish years old) and a newer one .. both of them are gorgeous and have a awesome feel. I think I will totally just have to come back now to really experience Cuenca!

We're leaving early in the morning for Peru (casual 20+ hour bus trip ... hope I'm betterish by then!) to start our tours on Saturday - really looking forward to some new countries and experiences ... Peru has always held the most appeal to me - I can't wait to see what it has to offer =)