Cusco Trip POST #3

(once again, please check out the previous cusco posts for the beginning of the trip!)

So now, to continue on with our trek towards Machu Picchu!

Day 2: Hike it out.

After an early breakfast, the group followed our new guide Antonio to the edge of the mountain we were about to climb down. He gave us a brief explanation about the history of the town that used to rest in the valley below before a landslide completely wiped it out. Throughout our hike he told us numerous stories about Quechua beliefs of respecting Pachamama (mother earth) and all that she has given to the people of the earth. Once again, I'll save you the history lessons, but if you want to hear about it later, let me know.

This hike was pretty easy, only about 18 kilometers over a 7-8 hour span. We ate lunch in the middle of nowhere at a tiny restaurant with people who were baffled why Esya, Sophia and I were vegetarians. (What else is new??). We walked through parts of jungle, where we saw incredible amounts of orchids, banana trees, waterfalls, coffee trees, huge flowers, and of course, bugs. I have quite a nice collection of bug bites. I'm planning on bringing them back to the States, along with my new sexy socks-tucked-in-pants bike style...I figure I'll get lots of phone numbers that way.

We arrived in Aguas Calientes, all beyond ready for a shower or three, only to find out that we got there during a time of "mantenimiento" meaning the water in the whole city was shut off to preserve it. Coooool. When it did come on a few hours later, we all got to take nice ice cold showers before a huge, unreal dinner. Nothing like shower of icicles, I tell ya.

Half the group joined the German guy Andre in his room for some amazing Chilean wine to toast to good luck before Machu Picchu the next morning.

Here are some photos from the day, MP post soon to come!!:

COFFEE!! All those years at Caribou got me excited to see these berries/beans
Our guide for the day, Antonio

Cusco Trip POST #2

If you didn't see post 1, please check out the first few days in Cusco in my previous post!

And now, the 3 day trek to get to Machu Picchu:

DAY 1: Bike it out.

Esya, Sophia, and I woke up bright and shiny early to join our group: 1 woman and 2 men from England, 2 (very attractive) Israeli men, 1 man living in CA originally from France, and 1 man from Australia.

After a nice bus ride up to our 4,350 meter starting point at the top of a mountain in Abra Malaga, we were welcomed by fog so thick you could barely see a meter in front of you. (Oh god. I actually just used "meter" instead of "3 feet". Someone get me back to the States. Now.) After the guides checked to make sure the tires had air and that the brakes "sort of" worked, we jumped on our bikes and began down the mountain. I was blessed with a bike whose brakes "sort of" worked, which meant death grip on them the entire way down. We got to stop numerous times on the paved road section to take snaps of the valley below. After the relaxing paved road ended we were greeted by a rock road. No, not little gravel, ROCKS. Rocks that if you hit the wrong way, you and your bike tumbled to the ground, which although I managed not to fall, numerous people in groups did fall down. This includes someone from another group that fell off the edge of the mountain. When I finished that day, they still hadn't found him. Yeah. I'm not kidding either. (sorry mom, don't freak out, it wasn't me!).

We took a bus to Santa Maria, where the girls and I sadly had to leave our amazing group and guide to join our next group who was also only doing a 3 day trek. The 3 of us jumped into a cab (driven by what looked like a 14 year old boy) and took a terrifying hour long ride down the side of the mountain to Santa Teresa. The girls and I are now fondly calling that experience "Death Cab".

Arriving in Sta. Teresa we met our new group: 1 man from Belgium, 1 man from Germany, 2 guys from the Netherlands, 1 man and also a couple from France, and 2 boys from California.

After dinner we all went to a local club for drinks to numb the pain from 6 hours going over rocks on a bike. In hindsight, this may not have been the best idea since we had to get up early for a long hike the next day, but man, we all sure slept well.

Here's a few photos from the day, another post from Day 2 soon!:

Gloomy in Abra Malaga
The guide made me tuck my pants into my socks. Sooooo attractive.
"checking" the air in the bikes...
This picture isn't saturated. It's ACTUALLY that gorgeous here. Gah.
Sun finally out!!

Cusco Trip POST #1

I have so much to say about this amazing trip, I am sure I will need more than one post..

Day 1: CUSCO

I arrived in Cusco early the 9th and right away found a few unsure-looking gringas who didn't speak any Spanish outside the airport. These new friends (Sophia and Esya) and I left to find a hostal and some coca tea.

Day 2: SACRED VALLEY
The next day we got up early to do a tour of the Sacred Valley, alternating between hour long hikes to ruins and seeing local goods. We visited Pisaq, Urumbamba, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero. In Chinchero we got to watch a demonstration of the ancient process still used in this town to dye and weave textiles, which brought me back to the old Science Museum of Minnesota days (Lou, you remember that, right??)

A few shots from the day:

Colorful growths on ancient Inca walls in Pisaq
Inca ruins, the constant theme running through this trip...
On top of mountain ruins looking down at Ollantaytambo
Can you see the profile of a man with a beard and a crown of towers in the mountain?

Our guide this day showed us a drawing the Incas had of their sun god, which looks exactly like the face in the mountain (the towers were built atop to be his crown by the Incas). Historians believe that one of the reasons the Inca people let in the first Spaniards was because when they came with faces with large beards like this sun god, the Inca people believe them to be messangers from their god.

We learned ridiculous amounts of history, but I will spare you all the lesson for the day!

The next day we spent purchasing local goods to bring back, and explored Cusco and its Plaza de Armas before going to bed early, ready to start our trek towards Machu Picchu the next day!

The next post(s) will have more pictures from that hike!

so my mom can sleep tonight

i have arrived safely to cuzco!

i am staying with two lovely jewish vegetarians from boston, esther and sophia.

we booked our machu picchu hike for sunday monday tuesday!

love from the high altitudes!

terminada!

finally finally finally

I am done with all of my exams, presentations, and papers!

I've NEVER been so happy to be done with school. I can easily say I would never study at PUCP again, and can't wait to get back to classes at Madison!!!

Katie, Ash and I had a final lunch with our favorite Peruvians, and said our sad goodbyes before taking the last micro ride home from campus.

Now that we are done with school, we are all free to travel, and believe me, we all can't WAIT to get out of Lima and have some fun!

While Katie and Ash are going to Argentina, I will be travelling alone to Cuzco.

I will be doing a 3 or 4 day hike to Machu Picchu, and for the rest of my time..well...I have absolutely no idea! I've made no plans, and intend to just figure things out as I go, meeting people along the way to travel with.

I'll be back in Lima for a few days before my trip to BOLIVIA, so I'll try to update with a post and pictures!

Hope you all are happy & healthy!

Besos y Abrazos

Coundown:

Leave for Cusco: 12 hours

Leave for Bolivia: 9 days

Leave for USA!!!: 3 weeks

ahhhh folklore

Like I mentioned in my last post, Katie, Mary and I all went to Brisas del Titicaca, a folklore dance and music show. It was absolutely fantastic! Between acts popular cumbia or salsa music would come on and anyone from the audience could get up on the stage and dance!

Here are a few photos....

plumas tan grandes, chicas con botas, y hombres como monstruos!

"son guapas, bailando la marinera, nuestras mujeres peruanas!"

.... hope this video works, enjoy!

In other news, we now have 2 new girls living in the house with us, both from the east coast.

Also, Tuesday is the end of the school road for me (FINALLY) with 2 finals, a commentary, and 3 final papers (ouch). Wish me luck. I am going to need it.

Besos y Abrazos!

dia de independencia y amistad

HAPPY 4th everyone!

I've gotta say, being in Lima is a little bit of a bummer, but not quite as bad as in 2005 when I spent the 4th in Poland! It's Dia del Amistad here, (Friendship Day) so at least there's that!

To take a break from studying, and to celebrate the 4th the best we can, Katie and our friend Mary and I are going to a folklore dance show, at a place called Brisas del Titicaca.
It's multiple hours of different types of music, shows, and dancing!

So it may not be BBQs or watching fireworks on Bald Eagle, but it should be a good time.

Entonces, otra vez, Feliz Día de la Independencia!

Besos y Abrazos!