Time flies when you´re having fun....
Well, yet another chunk of time has passed without an update. Been too busy living and enjoying Cusco to get online much. Well, that and recovery from Caroline´s grand entrance to Peru and then working, studying and just trying to fit it all in. Also had to unfortunately experience a combination of the two things that are hardest for me being away (aside from missing friends and such). I am extremely close with both of my brothers and Blake had a close call with a Staph infection gone out of control in the past couple weeks. The good news is that everything is fine now and he will make a full recovery but it scared me to death and made me feel farther away than ever. Missing my brothers and worrying that something bad will happen to someone at home that I love are two things I think about most in terms of it being hard being so far away. But, I just got off the phone with the little guy and he sounds great so that is a relief, hopefully he will be home from the hospital tomorrow...thanks to those of you who knew what was going on and sent prayers his way, it is greatly appreciated.
As for events here, Cusco has calmed down, the Plaza de Armas is peaceful but tourism has ramped up. Also, it would appear that as soon as the calendar turned to July 1st I realized just home finite my time here is. I knew it would happen but its never fun when that realization kicks in. So, I am ramping things up big time and making sure I leave without regrets!
I fled to the valley to do some work after caroline left and just chill out...went for an amazing hike from the town of Maras to the Inca ruins of Moray which are still a mystery to archeologists- the circular ruins were gorgeous.
From Moray it was a hike down to the Salineras which are a HUGE complex of Inca created salt mines. They are free to walk through (bonus!) and are still used to mine salt today. There are over 1,000 pools and it was one of the coolest things I have seen in Cusco. Aside from a slight sunburn (yea yea high altitude, sun, white reflective ponds of salt, DUH!) it was the perfect day and set into gear my plans for the next 5 weeks or so.
Returning to Cusco I got back to work and realized I really only have a week left. Work hasn´t been as fulfilling as I would have liked but I´ve enjoyed it, meeting people and I have learned a lot more about the region. I´ve also become official go to girl for trip planning all over south america which is a good feeling. Last week I also started some intensive spanish classes and will be in class every day for 4 hours until I leave for Paucartambo and Bolivia.
So, after work next week, its off to Paucartambo with about 20 friends and extendeds. The town of Paucartambo is near the boundary of the Cloud Forest Jungle in Manu. For 5 days locals and visitors (mostly Peruvian this isn´t a very tourist event which makes it even cooler) the Feast of the Virgin de Carmen. EVERYONE wears crazy different masks depicting different characters from Peruvian history. Some are sewn, some are paper mache or carved. Needless to say the pics should be something else. On the first day everyone goes to Tres Cruces on the edge of the jungle before dawn to watch the sunrise. Although it is frequently raining in Tres Cruces when it isn´t the sunrise is like nothing you have ever seen. The atmospheric effects make it appear as though there are 3 suns rising (hence the name, 3 crosses). After Paucartambo its back to Cusco for a night then to Bolivia for a week or so before Dana and Jo come to visit. And, of course there is another huge holiday coming up at the end of the month: Peruvian National Independance Day. (of course!) That should be one hell of a party. After Dana and Jo are here, I have another week to enjoy Cusco and then I´ll spend a week traveling to Lima by bus, going to see the Colca Canyon (deepest canyon in the world), condor watching, visit Arequipa, go sand boarding outside of Ica and last but not least fly over the Nasca lines before ending in Lima and finally going home. Whew. That went fast eh?
So, I am off to watch the World Cup Final (added to the mix of Peruvian flags, Cusco rainbow flags still hanging everywhere from Cusco month, Italian and French colors have made appearances in the streets). Yesterday was a lovely day of rest and sun at Lake Urcos, a high altitude lagoon 1/2 hour from Cusco.
It was lovely to actually be hot; especially since the nights have been getting colder and colder. It is winter here afterall! So thats all the news that fit to ramble...look for updates after Paucartambo!
As for events here, Cusco has calmed down, the Plaza de Armas is peaceful but tourism has ramped up. Also, it would appear that as soon as the calendar turned to July 1st I realized just home finite my time here is. I knew it would happen but its never fun when that realization kicks in. So, I am ramping things up big time and making sure I leave without regrets!
I fled to the valley to do some work after caroline left and just chill out...went for an amazing hike from the town of Maras to the Inca ruins of Moray which are still a mystery to archeologists- the circular ruins were gorgeous. From Moray it was a hike down to the Salineras which are a HUGE complex of Inca created salt mines. They are free to walk through (bonus!) and are still used to mine salt today. There are over 1,000 pools and it was one of the coolest things I have seen in Cusco. Aside from a slight sunburn (yea yea high altitude, sun, white reflective ponds of salt, DUH!) it was the perfect day and set into gear my plans for the next 5 weeks or so.Returning to Cusco I got back to work and realized I really only have a week left. Work hasn´t been as fulfilling as I would have liked but I´ve enjoyed it, meeting people and I have learned a lot more about the region. I´ve also become official go to girl for trip planning all over south america which is a good feeling. Last week I also started some intensive spanish classes and will be in class every day for 4 hours until I leave for Paucartambo and Bolivia.
So, after work next week, its off to Paucartambo with about 20 friends and extendeds. The town of Paucartambo is near the boundary of the Cloud Forest Jungle in Manu. For 5 days locals and visitors (mostly Peruvian this isn´t a very tourist event which makes it even cooler) the Feast of the Virgin de Carmen. EVERYONE wears crazy different masks depicting different characters from Peruvian history. Some are sewn, some are paper mache or carved. Needless to say the pics should be something else. On the first day everyone goes to Tres Cruces on the edge of the jungle before dawn to watch the sunrise. Although it is frequently raining in Tres Cruces when it isn´t the sunrise is like nothing you have ever seen. The atmospheric effects make it appear as though there are 3 suns rising (hence the name, 3 crosses). After Paucartambo its back to Cusco for a night then to Bolivia for a week or so before Dana and Jo come to visit. And, of course there is another huge holiday coming up at the end of the month: Peruvian National Independance Day. (of course!) That should be one hell of a party. After Dana and Jo are here, I have another week to enjoy Cusco and then I´ll spend a week traveling to Lima by bus, going to see the Colca Canyon (deepest canyon in the world), condor watching, visit Arequipa, go sand boarding outside of Ica and last but not least fly over the Nasca lines before ending in Lima and finally going home. Whew. That went fast eh?
So, I am off to watch the World Cup Final (added to the mix of Peruvian flags, Cusco rainbow flags still hanging everywhere from Cusco month, Italian and French colors have made appearances in the streets). Yesterday was a lovely day of rest and sun at Lake Urcos, a high altitude lagoon 1/2 hour from Cusco.
It was lovely to actually be hot; especially since the nights have been getting colder and colder. It is winter here afterall! So thats all the news that fit to ramble...look for updates after Paucartambo!
posted by WanderLust at 7/09/2006 01:54:00 PM
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