To our loyal readers, apologies for the long delay between blog entries but we have not been in an internet-friendly environment until now ... disculpe amigos! 

The day of our departure from San Agustin, where we have spent the past 5 1/2 weeks volunteering on Fundacion Viracocha's farm, has finally arrived . From digging holes, preparing plantation beds, turning over compost piles and planting seeds and seedlings on the farm with Carlos and fellow volunteers ... to trying to save an injured rabbit ... to attending a circus put on for the pueblo's children by Clowns without Borders ... to being welcomed into Steffen and Lina's warm and loving home and gorging ourselves on his parents' delicious sweets ... to hiking the surrounding hills including to and from the pueblo multiple times daily ... San Agustin holds a very special place in our hearts and we have once again made new friends and lived new experiences that will be with us always. Click here to view a short video clip of the new 48 cubic meter water tank on Fundacion Viracocha's farm that a group of generous friends and family funded.

We rolled out of San Agustin last Thursday morning at 6:15 AM in a collectivo bound for Pitalito, where we boarded a second collectivo for the harrowing and nauseating ride across the Cordillera Occidental (the Western Colombian Andes) to Pasto near the Ecuadorian border, mostly on the narrowest of gravel roads from Mocoa on which 2 lane traffic is an impossibility and where one faux pas would lead to a plunge to certain unwelcome consequences as the so-called road wound its way up to 4,000 meters in altitude with many a corner having soft earth which could easily be broken free from the edge . I guess that's why the stretch of road between Mocoa and Pasto is nicknamed The Road of Death.

After arriving in Pasto at about 4:00 PM and spending the night in a clean and comfortable room near the bus station, we set off at 6:30 AM the next morning, with hot chocolate and arepa in hand, for Ipiales and then the Ecuadorian border. Near Ipiales, on the way to the border, is the Santuario de las Lajas, an impressive basilica church of Gothic revival architecture built inside the canyon of the Rio Guaitara from 1916 to 1949. Its construction was funded with donations from local churchgoers and replaced an old 19th century chapel. There is a claim that an apparition of the Virgin Mary was seen here and that a miraculous event took place in 1754. The paths leading down to and around the basilica are bordered by walls covered with prayers and messages of gratitude engraved on plaques bolted and cemented by faithful believers.

Upon arrival at the border, we first got an exit stamp from Colombia and then proceeded to walk across to Ecuador, whereupon we participated in the 45 minute queue to obtain an entry stamp. One short collectivo ride to Tulcan and then a 4 1/2 hour bus ride and we were in Quito.