Feliz Navidad!

Hello!! Merrrrrry Christmas!
I hope everyone is putting the finishing touches on their Christmas presents as we speak! Tying the bows, writing the cards... *sigh*
We are having a great time. We live underneath the Highest Active Volcano in the world! At least that´s what we keep telling people. We live at 3500 meters. The altitude gave me headaches he first few days but I´m getting better now. Both Jason and I have now gone on the day trip to the volcano (a bonus of being a volunteer- free!). We drive up the volcano to the parking lot, 4500 meters, and then hike up this gravelly hill for about 30 mins to an hour depending on how fit you are to get to the refuge, a height of 4800 meters. It really takes your breath away. Literally and figuratively. Then you continue upwards. I was able to reach 4900 meters, higher than any mountain in Europe!! I was so proud of myself! When Jason went he saw the Andean wolf, and a condor! I didn´t see that stuff, but it was still cool.
Jason did some horseback riding the other day. He enjoyed that, but his horse was a little skiddish and it was hard to keep control. But of course he did great.

We live at the hostel and are the hosts for the guests. We take care of anything they need and organize all their tours and stuff. It´s really fun meeting all the cool travelers. We live with four dogs and two kids. Three of the dogs are puppies and pee and poo a lot. You could probably guess, but Jason cleans up all the doggy messes. From our front step we can see 7 mountain peaks ranging in height from 4000 to almost 6000 meters (Cotopaxi). It´s almost always clear in the mornings, it´s really amazing.

I was feeling rather reminiscent yesterday. I walked up the hill and found a tree branch that had kind of red-green flowers on it. I put it up for a Christmas tree and made some paper snowflakes to go on it. I hung the ´ornies´ that Robin had sent with me and it made it feel almost like home.
We really miss everyone a lot. But I think it will be lovely Christmas nonetheless.
We´ll be here for three more weeks and then we don´t know what we´ll do. We´re thinking of heading to Argentina, or maybe head back up north through the rest of Central America that we missed. Who knows!

I´m having some troubles uploading the photos, but I´ll try later. LOVE YOU ALLL!!!!!
Oh, and by the way, if anyone wants to send a letter (no packages please), you have two weeks to post it so that we´ll get it.

Jason and Kaela
Secret Garden
Calle Anteparra y Los Rios
E4-60
San Blas, Quito
Ecuador, South America

Feliz Navidad, y prospero año a todos!!