Thanksgiving in Moro Moro

For Thanksgiving, we (along with Chris and Lindsey, two MCCers who live in another part of Santa Cruz) traveled to a rural community called Moro Moro where some other MCCers live and work (Krista and Brian, Nathan, and Remi). It's about 8 hours away and up in the mountains, so the weather is significantly cooler (although we were fooled and ended up a bit sunburned even so (yes...the sun is surprisingly strong at that elevation and latitude!) The kids did really well during the long travel days...Jesse in his underwear and all.

We helped make a traditional Thanksgiving dinner in Moro Moro. There were a total of eight MCCers plus our three kids. We baked three chickens, yucca, carrots, stuffing, and greenbeans in Nathan Harder's outdoor adobe oven. Krista and Brian made "pumpkin" pies out of a local squash that were quite good. We were glad to spend the Thanksgiving day/weekend with new friends, but of course we remembered and thought about family at home. It felt great to give the kids (especially Nathan and Maria) more freedom to wander around the small rural community where Nathan H. lives. The wide open space, dirt roads and lack of any vehicles was so peaceful. We also enjoyed using a dry latrine again. The stars were beautiful too. We're very grateful for how kind and engaging the other MCCers are with our children.

Saturday we drove part way back to Santa Cruz and stayed overnight in Samaipata...a quaint mountain town that has some tourist appeal. We stayed in a cabin nearby the town and went swimming and walked into town for several really great meals! Also bought several boxes of blackberries and raspberries that are in season right now in the higher elevations.

Below are two slideshows:
- 27 pictures from Moro Moro
- 5 pictures from Samaipata