Salkantay DAY 3

We woke up perfectly and had some omlettes before starting to hike again. On Day 3 we hiked from the high jungle down to the jungle. Along the way we saw some flowers that are used to make hallucenagens.

We were really tired from the previous day and we walked realllllllly slow, haha. At one point we had to cross the river and use a little cable car that the people from the other side had to pull. We finally got down to the campsite

SALKANTAY Trek Day 2

DAY 2

We slept like shit. It was freezing cold and I couldn't get comfy. However, we woke to a beautiful view of the sun shining on the SALKANTAY glacier. "We know we are complaining but it will be worth it". Breakfast was pancakes and bread and hot chocolate. Oh and they gave us "tent service" which was where they brought us tea/coffee into our tents at 5:30am. It was really sweet and the staff was extremely nice. They also gave us boiled water to hike with.

On this day, we hiked through the Salkantay Pass where we climbed from 3,900-> 4,600masl (12,800->15,000feet) then back down to 3,900 again. It was going to be really really cold up there. I was wearing leggings, tall socks, pants, long-sleeve underarmour shirt, thermal, D's sweatshirt, jacket, gloves, two beanies...and i was still cold.

"Our tits are about to fall off...but we're excited"

On this day we hiked from Soraypampa through Salkantaypampa up to a peak that was 4600 meters. It was mostly switchbacks but they were very steep and it took about 4 hours. When we got to the top there were amazing views of the glacier and of the valleys below. David told us about the offerings to Pacha Mama (Mother Earth) of 3 coca leaves that represent the Condor, the Puma, and the Snake, the tiers of life in the andean religion. You are supposed to build a little monument out of rocks and put the coca leaves under them. I made my offering for Punnett girl (Kendra Fallon). She was on her way to Mt. Everest and I have been thinking about her alot on this trip, especially this hike because I know that she would have enjoyed so much. RIP Babygirl <3

We sat down and had some snacks on the mountain and chilled for a bit before starting to walk again. With another 4 hours ahead of us, Arielle and I filled up the time by talking about random things and telling each other stories. I told her about my great Aunt Margaret and different math things, like the RSA algorithm (used for encryption especially with credit cards). Finally we got to the lunch place, where we had Lomo Saltado (peruvian dish) and jello. I think we were at Huayrapampa=Wind Place...

We took a power nap on the tarps and then kept walking. Within 40 minutes we were in the "High Jungle" and the scenery changed drastically and the tempurature was alot warmer. However the hike lasted FOR-EV-ER. At this point our knees, ankles, and feet were hurting really bad. At one point we thought we were alone so we were peeing on the side of the trail and I thought I heard voices so i stopped suddenly and stood up and like 10 horses when came stampeding through the path from the opposite dirrection, haha close call. But after 3.25 horas mas we made it to the campsite called Chaullay. I really like this campsite because there was a beautiful view of the jungle and river and there was a little town. When we got there our feet were disgusting...we rested for a little bit and then had some tea and hot chocolate and had wontons with cheese inside. I cant remember what we had for dinner but later we had to poop outside bccause there was no bathroom...jajajaja.

Salkantay Trek DAY 1

DAY 1

Woke up at 6:00am because we were getting picked up at 6:30 by David, our guide. Arielle overslept and was having...problems. We eventually got on the road and drove a couple of hours to MollePata (2,900 masl= 9,514 feet) to have breakfast a little cafe.

• Molle= small tree that can be used for Mosquito repellent or Chicha
• Pata= place

We drove for another hour on a bumpy ass road to the trail head. We met our guides/cooks/horseman.

• Tourguide: David
• Horseman: Alberto
• Chef: Ruben
• Ass. Chef: Estamilado (next to me in spanish)

Arielle and I were actually really unprepared for the trek compared to the other people in the group who had daypacks, walking poles, zipoff pants, etc, etc. We basicallly just brought our purses to hike with. But we were ready regardless.

We walked a few hours on an old bus road before having lunch in a little community. We had asparagas soup, chicken in peanut sauce, rice and a peace that David told us was condor egg. Mate de coca. We talked about Peruvian politics and sacrificing people. Our lunch place overlooked a beautiful valley and it was really peaceful up there.

After lunch we hiked for two more hours to the campsite. We hiked A LOT slower than everyone else and just talked a lot about our lives in Cusco and the crazy stuff that has been happening to us here.

Our campsite was called SORAYPAMPA (3,900 masl= 12, 800 feet). We had some tea and cookies and changed into our warm clothes because it was already FREEZING and it was supposed to get to -6 or -10 celcius which is like 15 degrees fahrenheit. We had dinner around 7 which was Trout, rice, and veggies. After dinner they gave a little surprise in the form of a Pisco Sour :) Arielle went into our tent and ate our SODA cookies for dessert and tried to sleep.

CHIFA

Yesterday we decided to go out for lunch and we asked Bryan and Adan (the guys at PATAS downstairs) where a good place to go was. They told us to walk down and go to get CHIFA (follow the link). It a cross between Peruvian and Chinese food. We all got the "Combinado".

This included a noodle soup thing
For second we had chicken fried rice and a dish that had chicken, vegetables, and noodles.

Bolivia!

• so far in bolivia we have been in:


• copacabanala


• isla del sol


• la paz-valle de la luna, death road, national art museum- chilling in the plazas, tiwanaku (really interesting to compare to inka history!)

tonight we leave for an overnight bus to sucre (12 hours!) later potosí and salar de uyuni!

August 16th, 2011

totally random/typical* day, just thought i would share. Below is a picture of the Plaza.


Woke up and had breakfast with Michelle-

• freshly cut watermelon, grapes, maracuya (passion fruit), bananas, etc
• cheesy eggs
• bread, butter, jam
• freshly squeezed maracuya juice

Took a taxi to Maximo, got coffee and went to class from 10-1pm

- Learned about playing games in your lessons by actually playing Jeopardy to review ESL techniques. My team was the "Sex Cuys".

Worked on my lesson plan a little bit and went home to eat lunch

• i cant remember what lunch was right now- but it was something Peruvian and good.

Decided to go walking around the center, so Arielle and I took a taxi to San Pedro Market- which basically is a HUGE Peruvian market that has different sections for clothes, fruits, potatoes, meats, grains, etc. However they sell pretty much EVERY part of any animal you are looking for, including Cow's faces/noses/hooves, frogs, chicken feet, etc. In the back they have little restaurants (picnic tables with ladies looking right in front of you). But mostly only Peruvians eat there.

However, last weekend I went there with some Argentinian friends and we bought pan (bread) and went to a little booth. We got soup, Lomo Soltado (meat/rice/salad), mate (tea), and a coke for only 3 soles. That equals about 1 dollar. Also, as we were sitting there eating, a Peruvian family stopped and started talking to us and they said that they wanted a picture with me because they thought I was "Barbie". The little girl was so scared because she thought i was the REAL Barbie. They gave me their baby to hold and took a bunch of pictures of me. It was bizarre and hilarious. Afterward we went to the fruit section and got freshly made icecream smoothies, again for 1$.

San Pedro Market

(click on this picture)

After we walked around San Pedro Market, we walked to the Plaza de Armas and went to a little cafe overlooking the plaza.

La Plaza de Armas

We got Cafe con Leche and Alfajores- a South American pastry that is DELICIOUS. It is like two crumbly cookies that put together with some sort of filling that can be dulce de leche or caramel or jam.

Afterthat, we had to go back home to the family house because i needed to work on my lesson plan more. (I will write more about teaching later). We talked and hung out with Pricilla and Gaby- the cooks at the Family House that we love the heck out of and have become our new best friends and go out with us whenever they can (even though we are supposed to keep that secret for some reason :))

After getting ready to teach, I went down and had dinner

• Arroz con carne y ensalada- to die for.

Took a taxi to Maximo and finished up preparing my lesson. I have been/will be teaching everyday night from 8-9pm this week. My lesson was really fun and I enjoy my class a lot. As one student was leaving he said "Thank you teacher, you are a really good teacher" it was really cute. Had a little feedback session with Sabrina-my TEFL instructor who is observing me all this week.

Then, I took a taxi HOME and hung out with Michelle and Arielle for a little bit. Skyped with my dad- which was awesome cause i hadn't talked to him in a while and he always makes me laugh and feel happy.

Watched the movie "CHE" and went to sleep.

*Typical day minus going out.

Daily Differences pt. 1

First of all, I am LOVING life in Peru. Everyday is a new adventure. Getting to know a foreign city is really fun and exciting, so I decided to keep running list of daily differences I notice between Peruvian life and life in the states.

(In San Blas)

1. WATER. There are multiple issues with the water here in Cusco. First, in order to preserve water in the city, they shut it completely off every night. (Apparently they refill the general water supply all day until 6pm, when they do it for the last time). Then, it basically just runs out, whenever. Usually this happens anywhere from 9-11pm. What does this mean for us? Well no showering, flushing, cooking, or anything else water related past 9.....interesting, but surprisingly im pretty used to it already.





TAMBOMACHAY OR BATHS OF THE INCA
(Apparently the Incas had it figured out)


2. NO WATER. Last weekend the water went off in our half of the city at 3pm on Friday with no sign of coming back on. We had some drinking water, but that was it. It ended up being off until Sunday mid-day, but only for 2 hours. Of course I was napping and missed the water and my opportunity for a shower. I felt really gross. So I stole a large pitcher of warmish water (freshly boiled) from the kitchen and attempted to shower myself with it. Turned out to be rather successful and actually preferable to the cold showers I take 50% of the time.





3. NIGHT LIFE. As with every city that is not in the U.S. there are little to no rules/laws when comes to going out. Here in Cusco, there are plenty of "Discos" and bars to go to. Usually we go out around 11:30, 12, or sometimes 1. This means that the clubs stay open until about 5 or 6am. Another thing is that the "bouncers/promoters" basically fight for you to come to their clubs and pelt you with free drink tickets. Most of the clubs are in the picturesque square- Plaza de Armas or up in the hills of San Blas. The ones WE have been frequenting are Mythology, The Lek, and IncaTeam.





4. TAXIS. There are VERY few people with cars in Cusco. Pretty much every car on the street is a little tiny one with a Taxi sign on it. Each taxi ride is 3 soles wherever you go (= approx. 1$), and you don't have to tip. They honk CONSTANTLY, whether they are picking you up, telling you to get out of the way, or nearly crashing into another as they frantically switch lanes and weave in and out of traffic.



5. PLATA ($$$). So the currency in Peru is the Peruvian Nuevo Sol, more commonly just called "soles" (soul-es). The conversion rate is approximately 3 to 1. There is a lot more importance put on coins here since there are 2 sol coins and 5 sol coins so I'm always trying to get change.

Okay that's all i can think of in this moment, i will write more later!!