May 2017

Ollantaytambo

Absolutely loved this place! All the tiny narrow streets with canals, the stone houses, the plaza with a few restaurants and coffee shops, enclave in the mountains and....when I lifted my head and saw above....incredible archaeological ruins...a citadel on one side of the mountains and what appeared to be a fortress on the other side; very high up....ideal for another trekking day! On top of the mountain, the day after, chatting with a native (from a group that live still in the mountains) we learned that this area is actually food storage and the reason why the Incas built so high up it was because of fear of floods.

From here, all excitement, shouting and laughing we took the train to Aguas Calientes....the door to Machu Pichu!!!

Hecti said that the journey was more significant than the destination. For years we have been planning and thinking this trip with our friends...and now we are finally here. The sight of Machu is really impressive. A whole city built so high up in the mountains. There were so many tourists that it was difficult to just stay still and appreciate the environment. First, we had passes to climb to Wainapichu, a (300 meters) mountain just overlooking the whole city. It was really spectacular but yet again, as soon as we got to the top, it was all about photos rather than taking all in. It started raining so the rest of our visit had to be rushed. Talking among us, we all felt the same...yes, we loved the place..yes, it was an incredible view...yes, there is some mystical overall feeling around.... but we all wished we could have stay much longer just sitting around, meditating, reflecting...

Cuzco
The first time we were in Cuzco it was a terrible experience. We left our Sal Solcito on a square and off we went to explore the old city (spectacular!). By the time we came back, our home has "disappeared"!!! Luckily it was only towed by the transit police, so we spent the night on the police "yard" and so early in the morning after we just run away from this city.

The second time around we had the opportunity to walk the main square which is one of the niceness and biggest in south america. There are 3 churches just in this place. We explored the narrow streets and walked up to a lookout to see the whole city. As usual, we wondered through the big fresh markets, a favourite pastime....we can tell so much about a culture just looking at the food they produce and buy.

The road from cuzco to nazca was really pretty. A long way, we slept twice on the road overlooking valleys, river streams, mountains and -as is the case in all south of Peru- the terraces. These are patches of cultivated land, all in different colours, they assembled like pieces of a puzzle, their borders made of walls of stones waist high.

Peru

A less than a fortunate border crossing, unable to meet our other friends, a robbery, a credit card eaten by the ATM machine, an illness than one by one caught all of us....this isn't exactly the way we wanted to start our leg in Peru!

Uros -floating islands

I keep thinking how many different ways of living are in this world. Such unique ways of living. We took a boat just for us to explore the islands. After a while, in front of us a "city". Small islands made of ...., no more than a few meters each, with 3-4 huts . Each cabana housed a small family. Or a couple with a child. We stopped in one to learn how this islands are made and to understand how the people here live. They take up to 1.5 years to build one small island. Most of the villagers now live from the tourists but they still collect eggs from a particular bird not only for eating but also to exchange in the markets- in the city- for other food. There is one island with a school- and another with a football field. Each island has a president- rotated every year and there is a president for all the islands. We slept in a hut,  mattress made of something like straw or bamboo with 4 lama blankets. We certainly didn't feel the cold but neither could move! In the morning we went fishing or.... trying to! The day before we laid some nets and it was time for collecting. Only 5 small fish that we could trade for 5 potatoes in the town!

Rainbow mountain (7 colours)

So hungry for real adventure and challenge. Hecti back on deck. We are ready. Started the day very early but after a mishap with Sal Solcito, where we lost our satellite dish (I wish, it just an antenna), we are ready for the hike. And what a hike it was! 8 hours, 5200 meters of altitude. Exhausted but incredible excited to arrive at the peak, to share this experience. 7 colors that was really more than 100....different ways to see the mountains and the valleys. Some horses to help us our way back, a bit into the late afternoon. Love it, love it, love it!

The "valle sagrado" journey is really beautiful and insightful at the same time. We took the time and crossed small towns so rich in archeological sense, so inspired by this landscape: Rachi, Sicuani and the great lake where we cook a full leg of ham!.I am so glad we took the time to explore all this area, in preparation for Machu Pichu