Heaven on Earth

Now that classes have started, I have to be up at 6:00 to make it to school on time. This comes about 7 hours before my usually wake-up, but there is an upside. The views are unbelieveable. When the sun rises and everything is just right there is nothing more beautiful than the views to the south of Quito.

This morning the mountains were aglow. The orange sun illuminating the hundred shades of green-tan-brown. Every peak and crevasse looked alive; one plateau shone a bright orange-yellow while casting a deep green shadow on the forrest to it´s side. Behind the mountains Cotopaxi was peaking it´s head out, parting the clouds to show off its sparkling snow covered peak. Big billowing pillows rolled over the mountains. Limned by the rising sun each whisp, crest, and dip was visible. The sun outlining the clouds with a pale orange set against the silver-white puffs. Some clouds settled into small valleys, others fell around the peaks. They did not obscure, but rather framed the mountains like a big blanket being pulled over a sleeping giant. I did not take any pictures, as I´m certain that no camera could capture completely the beauty of this panorama. Now, you all know that I´m not a believer... but if there is a heaven, I´m pretty sure this is what it looks like.