Hi everyone - Brendan here.
We have come to out last full day in Peru! While it is rather sad that we will be leaving tomorrow, we are glad to be heading home soon to see everyone we miss so much. Cusco has been an amazing experience. Since we arrived from Chiclayo on Monday, we have spent our time fending off altitude sickness (some of us responded better than others) and trying to do as much as we can with the time we have left. A group of us who were feeling up to it went on Tuesday with Nathan, our contact here, to visit an orphanage run by his organization called Pura Vida. We spent the afternoon with some wonderful young children who we have been carrying donations for since we arrived. They were wonderfully grateful, and we were just as pleased to be able to spend time with them.
Yesterday was our crowning adventure, breaking from our non-touristy approach to this trip - we went to see the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu. And what an amazing experience that was! They are every bit as picturesque as pictures paint them out to be, and even more besides. It is an incredible feeling to walk down the narrow cobblestone streets built centuries before, and to see the mountain city that no European settlers ever found. The day itself was rather long, as we left the hotel at 7 in the morning and were not back until 3am today. We had to take two busses, a train, and another bus to get there, and the same on the way back. It was well worth the exhaustion though - we can cross it off the list of things to do in our lives! It really was remarkable.
Unfortunately the group has already started to break up, as Gary had to leave us early this morning to be back at school for his convocation. It is bizarre not to have everyone at meals after all this time, but we wish Gary the very best! We miss you already, my friend.
The story of the day is that Cusco is essentially in lockdown because of rioting protesters in the streets. Don´t be alarmed, we aren´t in danger - the citizens of Cusco realize that their city is a HUGE tourist draw, so they accomplish political change by holding protests rather often. Thus, no taxis or busses are running during the day today and tomorrow. They hope that by decreasing the tourist revenue, the local government will give them what they want. It is actually rather exciting to watch! Because of the lack of public transit, we wil have to leave the hotel early tomorrow morning to get to Cusco airport. Then comes 24 hours of transit time until we arrive home Saturday!
We hope that everyone is well at home, and that you are as excited to see us as we are to see you.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Hola everyone!
It´s Erika, writing from our hotel in Chiclayo where we will be leaving from in less than twelve hours for the incredible city of Cuzco. Despite a few mosquito bites and some bruises from the extremely bumpy truck ride through the mountains we are all healthy, happy and none the worse for wear. The past few days have been full of some emotional and physical challenges as we lived in the relatively poor village of Tallapampa, so we were all glad of the break that today offered. (We had nothing planned and were able to spend the day hanging out in Chiclayo). The highlight of today for a few of us was partaking in the Peruvian delicacy of "cuy" at a local restaurant. For those who want to know, "cuy" or "guinea pig" in English is very difficult to eat and was far too expensive for the amount of meat we got but it was definitely a worthwhile experience! Tonight we also visited the Chiclayo market which is known for its witch doctors and fortune tellers. However, by the time we had arrived those booths had already been closed- so that will be an experience which will have to wait for our next trip to Peru.
Tomorrow morning we have a 9:00 flight to Cuzco, complete with 4 hour layover in Lima so we should arrive sometime in the afternoon. At approximately 12,000 feet above sea level we are all anticipating encountering at least some symptoms of altitude sickness (ie. dizziness, headache, nausea, increased heart rate etc.). However, we are all ready to support each other and are eager for this final leg of our trip.
Until we write again, stay well and keep us in your thoughts and prayers. We are having an incredible time and can´t wait to tell you all about it when we get back home.
Hasta Luego! :)
Erika
It´s Erika, writing from our hotel in Chiclayo where we will be leaving from in less than twelve hours for the incredible city of Cuzco. Despite a few mosquito bites and some bruises from the extremely bumpy truck ride through the mountains we are all healthy, happy and none the worse for wear. The past few days have been full of some emotional and physical challenges as we lived in the relatively poor village of Tallapampa, so we were all glad of the break that today offered. (We had nothing planned and were able to spend the day hanging out in Chiclayo). The highlight of today for a few of us was partaking in the Peruvian delicacy of "cuy" at a local restaurant. For those who want to know, "cuy" or "guinea pig" in English is very difficult to eat and was far too expensive for the amount of meat we got but it was definitely a worthwhile experience! Tonight we also visited the Chiclayo market which is known for its witch doctors and fortune tellers. However, by the time we had arrived those booths had already been closed- so that will be an experience which will have to wait for our next trip to Peru.
Tomorrow morning we have a 9:00 flight to Cuzco, complete with 4 hour layover in Lima so we should arrive sometime in the afternoon. At approximately 12,000 feet above sea level we are all anticipating encountering at least some symptoms of altitude sickness (ie. dizziness, headache, nausea, increased heart rate etc.). However, we are all ready to support each other and are eager for this final leg of our trip.
Until we write again, stay well and keep us in your thoughts and prayers. We are having an incredible time and can´t wait to tell you all about it when we get back home.
Hasta Luego! :)
Erika
Hello everyone. It´s Brian here giving an update on our aventures in Peru. I am happy to say that we are all well and no major isues have presented themselves to us thus far. We left Lima bright and early Wednesday morning and arrived in Chiclayo where we checked into our hotel rooms for the night. Shortly after, we went to meet with a number of Cafe Feminino representatives for a presentation outlining their struggles and what they were doing to overcome them. Thursday morning we left the hotel and headed toward the mountains to meet with the coffee farmers of Tallampapa. This involved a truck ride that was like no other I had experienced! Sitting in the bed of a Toyota Hilux pickup truck for hours of steep mountain climbs on increasingly narrow paths with massive drops was a nerve-racking, yet amazing, experience. We spent two nights in the mountains and they were absolutely incredible (I´ll let your loved ones fill you in on the experience in a week). Yesterday morning, the group returned to Chiclayo and we travelled to three beaches on the coast. It was interesting to be sleeping deep in the mountains the previuous evening and swimming in the ocean only a few hours later.
Okay, that´s all for now, I´m certain some of the others are itching to get a post in to share their experiences so I´ll let them tell you more. Bye for now :)
Brian Mills
Okay, that´s all for now, I´m certain some of the others are itching to get a post in to share their experiences so I´ll let them tell you more. Bye for now :)
Brian Mills
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Our Final Day in Lima
Hola everyone!
It feels like just yesterday we hopped off the plane and tomorrow we will have already completed a third of our trip. We have been having a great time the last few days...let me fill you in.
Yesterday was a very good day for all of our egos. Following some discussions on the current economic and social situations in Peru, we had the opportunity to visit an elementary school to teach them some English. Although we had started to get used to the Peruvian stares at us "gringos", we now understand what it must feel like to be a teen hearthrob. The excitement, screaming and mauling for autographs by the Peruvian children was overwhelming. Their reactions were completely unexpected. The four hours we spent at the school flew by and it was an experience that we will never forget.
Today is our last day in Lima. We had another lecture this morning about the Church´s role in Peruvian society, but our plans for this afternoon were cancelled. This was fine by us however. Today was the first day that we had sunny, warm weather and we are taking the opportunity to relax before the big hike that starts on jueve (Thursday). We decided to spend some of our free time this afternoon walking through a market close to the Oscar Romero Centre. It was interesting to look at all the fresh fruit, food and shops. The canopy of tarps however was not exactly built for our six foot tall boys.
Tonight will have to be an early one; our bus to the airport leaves at four o´clock in the morning. Wish us a safe flight to Chiclayo everyone!
Hasta luego!
Emily xo
It feels like just yesterday we hopped off the plane and tomorrow we will have already completed a third of our trip. We have been having a great time the last few days...let me fill you in.
Yesterday was a very good day for all of our egos. Following some discussions on the current economic and social situations in Peru, we had the opportunity to visit an elementary school to teach them some English. Although we had started to get used to the Peruvian stares at us "gringos", we now understand what it must feel like to be a teen hearthrob. The excitement, screaming and mauling for autographs by the Peruvian children was overwhelming. Their reactions were completely unexpected. The four hours we spent at the school flew by and it was an experience that we will never forget.
Today is our last day in Lima. We had another lecture this morning about the Church´s role in Peruvian society, but our plans for this afternoon were cancelled. This was fine by us however. Today was the first day that we had sunny, warm weather and we are taking the opportunity to relax before the big hike that starts on jueve (Thursday). We decided to spend some of our free time this afternoon walking through a market close to the Oscar Romero Centre. It was interesting to look at all the fresh fruit, food and shops. The canopy of tarps however was not exactly built for our six foot tall boys.
Tonight will have to be an early one; our bus to the airport leaves at four o´clock in the morning. Wish us a safe flight to Chiclayo everyone!
Hasta luego!
Emily xo
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Hola from Lima!
Hola amigos y familias!
Brendan here, reporting on behalf of everyone. We all made is safely and without issue to Lima yesterday morning. We landed around 7:00 local time at the airport here in Lima. No baggage was lost, no travellers misplaced; all is very well! We are staying at Oscar Romero House in Lima Norte right now, hosted by a wonderful community of missionaries. We have already seen shocking poverty, even within the confines of the city. The neighbourhoods of Lima are as diverse from one another as they are from our cities back home. Within the last few hours we have travelled from dilapidated shack housing, through colonial churches and municipal buildings, to the ritzy, high-end shopping district next to the Pacific Ocean. The variety of experience in this densely populated city is overwhelming.
The food so far has been incredible - we are appreciating it while it lasts, because once we head up into the mountains there is no telling what we will get. The coffee is to die for, as would be expected! We are all eating well, and nobody has felt sick at all so far! (knock on wood)
It is one of the greatest feelings in the world to wake up each morning and step outside to a view of mountains. It was finally clear enough this morning that we could see the peak of the mountain immediately to our north - the start of the Andes. We have already taken so many pictures that you will be exhausted when we make you sit through them all.
I have to say personally that I could not be happier with the group we brought here. We have all gotten so much closer over the past few days, and we get along so well that the Peruvians think we have been best friends for years. We will get each other through, no matter what we encounter. Glen and Rebecca are wonderful guides and friends to all of us, and each of us feels like an integral part of the team.
So, families, until we find internet again, be well! We will take care of each other and continue to create memories to share. Keep praying for us, and see you soon.
-Brendan
Brendan here, reporting on behalf of everyone. We all made is safely and without issue to Lima yesterday morning. We landed around 7:00 local time at the airport here in Lima. No baggage was lost, no travellers misplaced; all is very well! We are staying at Oscar Romero House in Lima Norte right now, hosted by a wonderful community of missionaries. We have already seen shocking poverty, even within the confines of the city. The neighbourhoods of Lima are as diverse from one another as they are from our cities back home. Within the last few hours we have travelled from dilapidated shack housing, through colonial churches and municipal buildings, to the ritzy, high-end shopping district next to the Pacific Ocean. The variety of experience in this densely populated city is overwhelming.
The food so far has been incredible - we are appreciating it while it lasts, because once we head up into the mountains there is no telling what we will get. The coffee is to die for, as would be expected! We are all eating well, and nobody has felt sick at all so far! (knock on wood)
It is one of the greatest feelings in the world to wake up each morning and step outside to a view of mountains. It was finally clear enough this morning that we could see the peak of the mountain immediately to our north - the start of the Andes. We have already taken so many pictures that you will be exhausted when we make you sit through them all.
I have to say personally that I could not be happier with the group we brought here. We have all gotten so much closer over the past few days, and we get along so well that the Peruvians think we have been best friends for years. We will get each other through, no matter what we encounter. Glen and Rebecca are wonderful guides and friends to all of us, and each of us feels like an integral part of the team.
So, families, until we find internet again, be well! We will take care of each other and continue to create memories to share. Keep praying for us, and see you soon.
-Brendan
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Peru, here we come!
My goodness, ladies and gentlemen - tomorrow we leave for Peru. That's one sleep from now! if I get any sleep tonight, that is. These past few weeks have been insane with getting all the travel details together, packing bags, unpacking bags and repacking to be as light and efficient as possible. But now the moment is upon us! Whether we are ready or not, at this time tomorrow we will be in Lima, Peru. How insane is that?
I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped us get ready for what we are about to do. Without the confidence of our families and friends, none of us would be about to embark on this journey of a lifetime. Becca and Glen, I hope we do you proud. You put your faith in us as a team, and we in you, and together I know we can make it through.
To everyone else, please keep this close-knit little group of travellers in your thoughts and prayers. We promise to come back with lots of stories and even more pictures.
Hasta manana!!
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