The tour de cirques

What did you do on Easter weekend? Because i spent mine on a four-day hiking/camping trip that included a sunrise climb to the highest point in the Indian ocean, from which i was able to witness a volcanic eruption. Not trying to make anyone jealous or anything...

I was going to do a day-by-day account of the hike, but i realized that a whole lot of it would be "and then we went up" "and then we went down" "and then there was more mud." so instead, here are random highlights:

Friday, in the rain, getting to a picnic spot with a fire going, and Alex, after me telling about my kids drawing dragons on their valentines, coining the phrase "i love you like a dragon," which we proceeded to scream at various moments all through the rest of the hike.

Friday night eating dinner in Kyra and Bridget's tent when JJ called out ot us, "the volcano's erupting!" and looking out to the East to a red glow and plumes of dark smoke...a little later looking up in the other direction to see the entire milky way spread out before my eyes.

Saturday morning, not really having slept in a cold wet sleeping bag, getting up at 4 to climb with JJ, Jonathan, and Rachel to the top of Piton de Neiges, the highest point in the Indian Ocean. Watching the volcano erupting and the sun rising as we tried not to freeze.

Saturday, taking a path (recommended by the tourism bureau) that was marked 5 km and should have been marked 5 hours. Jonathan and i running ahead and doing an hour-and-a-half descent in 45-50 minutes in order to get food for everyone and ensure that we would all catch the bus to where we were supposed to spend the night.

Sunday, walking along the road to the entrance to Mafate ( the circle of mountains with no roads). Managing to get a hitch for Kyra, Rachel, and our packs in a pickup truck. The rest of us, with a huge weight literally off our backs, stopping to play at a playground.

Sunday afternoon, separated into two tents, insulting eachother through the walls as the rain fell outside.

Monday, tired and irritable and sore, but still able to appreciate passing over an amazing suspension bridge, and the proseltyzing hiker who passed us saying, "Hallelujah, vous etes super. Bonne journée, Hallelujah."

Getting to the end of the trail and feeling sick and tired and like a complete and utter ROCK STAR.

So, yeah, it was an AMAZING weekend. And to add to the awesomeness, my camera is back in the world and i have pictures uploading on Yahoo as we speak. YAY.

And in non-Reunion news, i sent in my official intent to enroll and tuition deposit for NYU today. So come visit me in NYC next year.

love y'all