Goodnight Sunshine
This is our sixth day at La Luna, the peaceful haven for travelers tucked between local farms on the mountainous outskirts of Otavalo. As the sun begins its descent over La Luna, I think about the many things that make the experience of being here divine.

Kevin and Tamara, our good friends and owners of La Luna, are fantastic hosts. Their menu offers an abundance of delicious dishes, many made from local organic produce. Accommodations are immaculate and welcoming, with fresh flowers from the garden in each room. And the atmosphere is as laid back as a Mexican beach, with soft mellow music playing, and big friendly dogs lounging in the sun. The staff and guests seem to blend in perfectly with this tranquil, low key place, and spending time with all of them is a particularly rich aspect of life here at La Luna. Being in the mountains, the hiking opportunities are endless, offering physical challenges and spine-tingling views. For now, I´m soaking in the scene from La Luna´s grounds.

Clusters of clouds take turns in a metamorphosis from white to warm, orangey pink to sleepy grey. As the day shift ends and evening takes over, I enjoy a delicious soundtrack of bird song, piglet bleats, grumblings from the cows as they´re herded home, and the carefree laughter of children. A dark green hummingbird has joined the scene right behind me, feasting on pretty white flowers, unaware that he´s putting on a show for me.

I can´t see Jason, but I know that he´s about 200 metres uphill, enjoying the sunset from the edge of the eucalyptus forest behind La Luna. He later tells me he had his own personal soundtrack, with Jimi Hendrix´s "Axis: Bold as Love" playing on the iPod.

Suzi, one of Kevin and Tamara´s employees who lives on the farm next door, can be seen in silhouette, enjoying play time with her son Ismael. As the sky warms, they sit to enjoy the end of the day.

Kevin and Tamara are now watching the same scene from in front of the hostal, with dogs at their sides. It occurs to me that many birds, animals and humans rely on the daily recurrence of this important ritual of nature. How fortunate we are that the ritual is such a beautiful one.

The pink disappears, and dots of light begin to appear in the valley. A plane heading for Quito airport disturbs the soundtrack of the sunset, reminding me of the world outside of La Luna, and of urban life. For a moment, I think about home, and the overstimulating cocktail of television, phones, computers, traffic, pollution, work and stress. There is so much natural life occuring here at La Luna, I feel just as overstimulated. Every moment is a feast for the senses. It just tastes a bit different from the feasts we´re used to back home.

Thank you, Kevin and Tamara, for sharing your special home with us.

Rachel