20. Prado Lago Heaven On Earth

how to keep a high after your favorite boogie? meet up with your badass friends who own the other dropzone xielo and head to their lake house! through mutual friends, i had met ana and nico, the couple who the drop zone xielo- and from the minute i met them, they were incredibly generous, inviting, welcoming people. they invited ryan and me to nico’s family lake house in prado after the boogie. we first met them at their dropzone and they gave us a free jump- what?!

in the xielo van, ana, nico, ryan, dan, juanfe, potri, nelson (nico's dad and xielo co-owner) and bocko (nico’s dog) and i drove an hour to prado lago monday night. we did family food shopping and celebrated ana’s birthday at a mexican restaurant.

we stepped out of the van to a tranquil lake and the most beautiful sounds. we piled everything into the little boat and the driver drove us 30 minutes to the lake house. i immediately felt the most peace i had felt since traveling- and this relaxation just got better each day i was there. ana and niko made us feel so at home- helping us with sheets, and making sure we had everything we need. their hospitality the whole time with them was truly unreal.

i loved waking up the morning to a beautiful lake, trees, friends that already felt like family. the lake was massive and was a in a natural reserve that had 350+ species of wildlife. for 3 days, 4 nights the 7 of us were on total lake time- not a care in the world, no phone service- just enjoying each other, the nature, the wine, the peace.

day 1 was mostly relaxing, porch coffee life talks with tears about letting go, wakeboarding- i remembered how!, headstand lessons with ana, family meals, wine.

day 2 we adventured out on a pontoon boat with a driver into the huge lake. we jumped from a 50 foot cliff, played with back flips off of the back of the boat and swam in waterfalls. juanfe and i sat on the front of the boat at sunset talking about my past life and him reassuring me in the strength i was finding through adventures. we both kept trying to capture that sunset in our minds. we returned from our adventure to the house man making us a family fish dinner.

day 3 was another adventure on the pontoon boat- going to a massive waterfall, exploring an island that used to be a drug rehab, dreaming which island we could all buy together, swimming shore to shore near the house, wake boarding, giving ana her half eaten birthday cake, and having a heart to heart with her about her strength in her skydiving life. the storms those nights were UNREAL- the loudest rain and thunder. it was so comforting being in the bunk beds with my friends as it downpored. i had the best sleep and dreams of my life.

those 3 days truly changed my life- i love you guys like family. thank you for the tea, the talks, laughs, veggie meals, peace of mind, thrill, love. the biggest thank you to nico, ana and nelson for welcoming me to you your life, your home, your hearts.

colombia cliff jumping!: