PERU

Thursday July 7th – Inca’s Trail Day 4 II

Ruben, our guide, told us that the “Sun Dial” was a stone with a lot of energy and that if we put our hands close to it (it is not allowed to touch it) we could charge our energy.

A cuy (guinea pig)?

The end of our tour. The kids invited Ruben to be in this picture.

What do you do on your free time in Machu Picchu? To try to touch a llama of course!

Our last picture at Machu Picchu was by the gate with one of the dancers who had performed upstairs.

We took the bus to go to the Machu Picchu Pueblo (aka Aguas Calientes) and there we had lunch.

During this meal, Nicomedes decided to give awards based on our experience in the Inca’s Trail.

Best Hiker- Alma

Always in the first group, never seemed tired! Excellent hiker.

Best Argentinian Lover- Emilia

A group of Argentinian and us kept on passing each other and one of them (a young handsome one) asked Emilia a couple of times how she was doing.

Best Trail Sense- Diego

Best Attitude- Selena

Selena bet that she wouldn't complain for four days. She was probably the only one who didn't! Selena is my Inca's Trail hero!

Best Trail Diplomat- Alonso

Based on his interaction with fellow hikers from different nationalities in English and Spanish as well as his constant concern about the kids in our group.

Best Looking/Best Trail Fashion-Kiran

Best match in height to an Incan for a non-Peruvian- Lydia

Best falling down-running-jumping- Lindsay

Best Chinchilla Watcher- Profe

Just because I got very super excited when we saw three chinchillas in Machu Picchu and screamed “CHINCHILLA!!!” again and again.

Best in Show/MVP-Noah

Then it was time to wait to for our train. We had our headquarters in the Main Plaza. From there some kids went shopping, others to the internet, others to a locutorio, etc.

Fidel was trying a trick with a bottle of Coke.

The time to board the train came and the bet on Selena no complaining was over!So we heard her.

It was a mix of laughing and crying. It was hard to understand, she said something about her knees. I think she could have continued but the fact that she was sitting right across an Argentinian male model make her refrained her emotions. 

We arrived to our hotel in Cusco around 10:30pm. We had been without a shower for four days and lucky us, there was not water in Cusco that day. So we all had to wait until next morning to finally take a shower.

At the airport in Cusco:

Back in Lima, we ate lunch in a Chifa (Peruvian – Chinese restaurant). Came back to my parent’s house and it was time for t-shirts. Ingrid came to say bye and she got her t-shirt as well.

We left at 8pm to the International Airport in Lima. The plane left Lima at 10:40pm and we arrived at 5am to Miami. Then we had a long time to kill.

Finally, in the plane Miami-RDU…on our way home!

And that’s it!

They were a FANTASTIC group of kids. Thanks so much for your enthusiasm, energy and positive attitude. Thanks for wanting to learn and respect the traditions of my country.

I will miss this group very much.

Tigres…roll out!

Hugs!

La profe

Thursday, July 7th – Inca’s Trail Day 4

We woke up at 3:45am! We had breakfast at 4am. They opened the Machu Picchu gate at 5:30am.

We reached Intipunku (The Sun Gate) around 7am in the morning. These are the expressions of some of our kids when they saw the hidden City of Machu Picchu for the first time (that was the reason I was in front of the line on that day).

The last two to arrive to Intipunku! They wanted to be strong and didn't accept the chivalry of Alonso and Fidel who ran to help them with their backpack.

It was only going down hill from here. We walked till some more ruins (where they said llamas were sacrificed) and waited until the sun reached Machu Picchu.

In front of a huge stone that is thougt to represent Pachamama (Mother Earth).

It was the 100 years anniversary of its discovery. So the top of Machu Picchu looked different. There were lights, an stage, a lot of security, reporters, etc. Presidents from different countries were going to come to visit Machu Picchu (in fact later Emilia, Selena and Alma had a very short interaction with Alan Garcia, the president of Peru!).

A reporter interviewing somebody.

Fortunately, all that was going on upstairs didn’t interfere with our tour to this beautiful place.

After hiking for 4 days in the Andes, this is the traditional picture in Machu Picchu!!!

Ruben, our guide, spent more than a couple of hours explaining us the different sites and the history of Machu Picchu.

The boys discussing in what side of the mountain we ate lunch the day before.

Handles or fertility symbols? Nobody knows for sure.

The room with sound system on the walls! Nicomedes and Fidel loved the fact they could hear each other and stayed there for a while.

This rock was carved to resemble the mountains of the back.

Wednesday – Inca’s Trail Day 3 II

Reaching to the City of Clouds.

One of the many bath that still have running water.

The last tunnel!

Beautiful sunset with the Urubamba river running between two mountains!

Nadia got her picture with the llama!

The last stairs of the day! They belonged to a beautiful set of ruins, with many many terraces.

We made it to our last camp. The next day we would reach Machu Picchu!

WEDNESDAY, July 6th  – INCA’S TRAIL DAY 3

This was the longest day to hike. But also the one with the most beautiful views.

Picture time was resting time!

We reached to other Inca ruins.

Resting time in a beautiful spot.

Now, the path to the next camp was up and down.

We had lunch in a beautiful place. We were at the same level than the clouds and we also had a view of the back of the Machu Picchu mountain.

Time to continue our hike, to our last camp.

TUESDAY, July 5th – INCA’S TRAIL DAY 2

The hardest day of all! This is the day when we hiked 12000 meters to reach the highest point (a pass between two mountains) called The Dead Woman Pass!!!

Selena, Emilia and myself watched over the back of the group. We took our time to go up hill, we rested a lot, enjoyed the view and tood many pictures.

Emilia at Camp Emilia

Resting at the check point.

Resting time!

There were a lot of stairs that day…a lot!

We saw a deer!

Lunch time!

We were very well fed!

After lunch, group picture!

Same place, 180 degrees turn.

And we continued hiking.

The porters continued passing us so easily!

Getting closer to the snow.

We reached the snow. The group that tried to pass this point the day before us didn’t make it because of all the snow. We were lucky, it was doable. Otherwise we would have walked all the way back and take the train to go to Machu Picchu.

Walking on the steps covered with snow was a challenge.

If you look carefully, on the right part of the top you can see the rest of the group who were already at the Dead Woman Pass (at 42000 meters) waiting for us.

A beautiful scenery.

One last break before reaching the top.

No wait, we need one more break!

We all finally made it! Time to take the picture at the highest altitude.

At the Dead Woman Pass, 4200 meters (13 779.5276 feet)

Now, time to go two hours down hill!

Finally reached the camp.

The kids had a laugh everytime someone said "Pass me the Fanny".

MONDAY, July 4th: INCA’S TRAIL DAY 1

The bus picked us up from the hotel at 7am. An hour and a half later, we stopped at Ollantaytambo to get supplies. From the Main plaza we could see some beautiful ruins in the mountains.

Another one hour and a half later we were at Km. 82 getting ready to pass the check point and start our hiking adventure.

Getting the backpacks ready.

Selena realized something very funny with her entrance ticket.

Check "sex"

The adventure started.

After a couple of hours we ate lunch.

Later, we found our first Inca ruins!

Some hours later, we reached our camp site. There, we met our cooks and porters. The porters’ ages ranked from 19 to 40. Most of them had wives and children. They amazed us all with their physical strength. They were the last ones to leave an old camp and the first ones to reach to the new one. By the time we reach to the new one, the tents were already up and in many occasions the meal was already cooked. They passed us easily in the trail and none of them wore special shoes nor special backpacks. They were just amazing. It is sad to know that they make less than $10 per day.

SUNDAY, July 3rd 2011

The kids were extremely tired, so we set the time to wake up the next day at 11am for those who wanted to go shopping in the morning.  Everyone was up and ready. I was proud of hearing bargaining.

It was a very cold a rainy day in Cusco. This is a very strange weather for this time of the year. The locals said it happens every 15-20 years.

It was time to eat lunch. Emilia and Alonso ordered alpaca!!!

Then, we went to our City Tour. We started with the cathedral (where it is not permitted to take pictures) and then we went to the Coricancha. This is the old Temple of the Sun that was given to Catholic priests and who then build on top of the Inca’s construction. One can see both buildings on one wall.

Then we waited for our bus to take us to Temple of the water. It was a beautiful place! While some of us had a very hard time walking to reach to the temple, some kids just ran uphill!

Then we went to a mysterious laberynth that was found out not many years ago and that no one certainly knows  its purpose.

Finally it was time to go to Sacsyahuaman, one of the most beautiful ruins in Cusco.

This is the puma's paw.

Fidel volunteered to run to a hill to take a picture of the whole group in front of the ruins. I do not know how he was able to run!

Time to eat our second dinner in Cusco. After eating their regular dinner, it was time to try cuy (Guinea Pig!).

"I can do this, I can do this..."

High altitude effects? Luna had a very funny half red ear!

Saturday, July 2nd

On Saturday at 7Dam, the vans were there to pick up our kids. It was time for Padre Hugo to say “Thank you for the hard work and bye”.

These are Padre Hugo and Ingrid, two very important people for our kids during their stay at La Ciudad.

On our way to the airport we got a phone call saying that due to the bad weather in Cusco the Inca Trail had been closed. When we arrived to the airport we found out that there was a delay with our flight to Cusco. We could only wait and hope. The wait took 6 hours!

Finally it was time to board!

The troop arrives to Cusco.

First thing at the hotel, drink mate de coca.

Then Mr. Ochoa from Casa Ochoa, asked everyone to wear traditional clothes from Cusco.

Then it was time to go to a “locutorio” to call the parents and to check the internet while waiting for the phone.

Time to eat dinner!

This is the flag of the Inca’s Empire.

On this day we learned that the Inca’s Trail may not be closed!

Hola from Cusco,

After a 6 hour delay, we made it to Cusco! It is cold here, hopefully tomorrow we will have better weather. The kids are about to call their parents.

We already had our briefing about the Inca´s Trail and everyone is super excited about the HUGE CHALLENGE!!!

Tomorrow we will be able to sleep until very late, eat lunch and then go on the city tour.

Till next time!

This is the last post from Lima!

Last night, we went to a dinner show at the Brisas del Titicaca restaurant. This is the most recommended place to visit in Lima if you want to see Peruvian dances. During the day, Brisas del Titicaca has a dancing school too. So, mosto of the dancers are trained since they are children. This very popular dance company goes on tour all over the world. I thought this was a great place to take our kids.

The transportation arrived at 9pm to pick them up from La Ciudad.

We saw dances, we ate and we danced between dances.

Fidel caught the attention of the Diabla, a "woman" devil that plays around with the guests.

The international guests are invited to the stage to have a picture with the dancers.

Then the dancers surprise the guests by taking them by the hands and making them dance..ha ha

Usually the nightlife in Lima impresses foreign visitors and our kids were not exception. The show in this restaurant starts at 10pm and goes until 2am (on Fridays and Saturdays it goes until 3am).  I arranged to be picked up at 1am, and still our kids were very ready to leave.  I think they all had a great time. Even Diego was felt sick during the show but then on the ride back he was his talkative self.

Today is the last day of our DA kids at La Ciudad. I know they will be missed there. It is also the good bye to Ingrid, their Volunteer Coordinator. She became a good friend to everyone, they treat her like one more of the group and Ingrid has told me she will miss our group of kids very much.

Tomorrow, we will be at 8:30am at the airport. First we will stop at my parents house to leave all the No-Cusco luggage.

Since the time in Cusco will be very limited, I will probably have just one more post from Peru. I will take the kids to a locutorio to call their parents Saturday evening from Cusco.

Until next post!