http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Claren/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Claren en-us Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:14:30 +0000 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:14:30 +0000 I got up earlier than usual around six thirty so that I could get to the camal or local slaughterhouse and back before breakfast. Got directions from Patti and took a wrong turn as soon as I got to the bottom of the hill so I ended up at least a kilometer off in the wrong direction. It was fun though I got all sorts of help form the local little old ladies. They loved telling La Gringa that http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Ancash/Cordillera-Blanca/blog-424728.html Im behind Its so hard to keep up...Sunday was basically a much needed day off. We had an hour or so recap of the last week with Patricia and a short look at what we will be doing in the next and then we fled to the market where we wandered around bought some stuff Im not telling had icecream which by the way is absofrickinglutly delicious here esp lucuma ate lunch at El Abuelo http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-423988.html In some ways this seems really short but on the other hand twenty days more in Peru seems like forever Its hard being here occasionally. I love our group but Id really like to get away everyonce and a while adn the languge barrier is making it difficult to have even a few moments that arent intesive learning moments. I just want some down time Its good though really stretching my limi http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-423866.html We got up early at quarter to seven to go to the church up the hill. Well almost all of us. Its a teeny little chapel with four benches and a cement podium and alter. The Padre was quite young I think in his thirties adn walked in carrying a guitar which was way out of tune. It was great. We were there for a little over an hour and a half ooooops but it didnt feel like that long proabl http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-423673.html We got up pretty early to go to the Cuy healer for which Claire volunteered. I was glad about that because originally I had but then I read about it and while I dont mind things dying Id rather not feel that I had caused a Guineapigs death through curiosity. At least she has headaches. So we got a cuy in a bag and carried it down to the healer who live just a little ways away. there was http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-423651.html Woke up late today 800 which was nice after the hike yesterday. Max Patrick and I had a good game of BS last night before sleeping. I cant remember if Ive written about Patrick yet. Hes a participant ffrm teh last group in June who stayed longer. He goes to Yale which made me think of Zef. Patrick also came over the night before after we went out and watched the moon for a while. I t http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-423495.html Today we spent the day hiking in the area guided by Martn a wonderful local teacher who is also our Quechua instructor. We walked about 15 km a good hike. Most of my journal for today is vocab words in both Spanish and Quechua but I will transcribe that part that isnt.We had a wonderful day today. We hiked up about 6 km on a kind of cultural hike with Martine a man who grew up at the high http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-423488.html I received a blessing in my dreams last night. What I want in my heart I want because I was born that way becuase that is who I am. Follow your true desires because they are Godgiven. I woke up with that resounding in my head. It was pretty awesome. If you havent read The Alchmist do so. Its amazing. Notes on the meeting we went to todayParticipatory Action Research a way to facilitate bu http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-423482.html Another incredible day. Sunday is the big market day here so we were sent down with assignments to find and retreive certain things for the week. Max and I had to get qiwicha witch is a kind of grain though we failed and brought back potoatoes adn Mashwa I think that we did get. Its a little like a short angry carrot. Made me think of Harry Potter. It was fun. Had a nice lunch at El Abuel http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-423105.html So I was going to press al of the plants that Don Pancho showed us this morning but realised that I would run out of journal space if I did that. Dan PAncho a traditional doctor and midwife came this morning and taught us a MASSIVE amount about the local plant uses and such. I did manage to get a lot of them pressed and Ill compare notes later. He told us about collaborating with the biomed http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-423100.html I have to start journaling in the short breaks we get Too much stuff We started the mornign with self led yoga which meant the I did a sun salute adn some sit ups and push ups. Not really yoga but there you go. Oh and we had an adventure getting there So Laura wakes us up to go and Im slow in the mornings so they leave before moe. I hear geese screaming a few shrieks and a lot of excited http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-423094.html Got up this morning earlyish and had a really sweet drinkable yogurt almost lile drinking custard. Not realy my thing. Laura arrived during the night yay so wa are all here. We took a taxi to the bus station and got on a beautiful meaning large and comfortable busand we are in the middle of the 7 or 8 hour bus ride to Carhuaz. Very excited. And the air conditioner is broke is that why I fe http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-423083.html Had a delightful breakfast in the room this morning at eightish then headed down to meet Kate and Max two more students and Patricia. I guess Laura had a hang up in Atlanta and coulndt catch her flight Sad day. Oh and Gabriella who will be teaching a couple courses on field photography Sweet. Kate is a grad student in Denver. She did 6 months of her undergrad in Southern Africa doing a http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-421212.html I got off a few emails before Patricia met us this morning so everyone should know that I am here and safe. Patricia seems very nice very ummm hippy anthro but that seems like labeling. I think she reminds me of Lus friend Ginny but Im not sure. The ranch sounds like its going to be awesome Yoga at 7 in the mornings hikes hotsprings 5 km away a male midwife that will teach us about medi http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-421206.html I met Claire finally when I found the cab driver which was nice because as independent as I like to seem being alone in a foreign country is a little scary and it is nice to know someone. Tried to rent a cell for the trip but my credit card didnt work...not sure what that was about Barrancos Backpackers Inn is delightfull Very colorful and no bed bugs We slept in a 3 bunk bed room all http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-421130.html I have been horrible about posting I know but I wrote in my journal the whole time so im gonna write those and post them. On the plane...I am meeting one of my group in Atlanta where I am flying right now. I am dismally unprepared for this trip. I havent done any of the reading studied next to no Spanish not sure why I thought that I could do that in Israel and I forgot my computer with http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-421126.html Hola Been a while I know I am in Carhuaz in Peru right under the Cordillera Blanco in a valley between the Cordillera Blanco and the Cordillera Negro. It is absalutely beautiful here and weve already been very busy. Im pretty impressed by how much spanish im understanding since i have only one semester of it but necessity is great. We had a wonderful class yesterday about local herbal http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Ancash/Cordillera-Blanca/blog-415503.html I got up late today did some laundry and basically just chilled out until about one. I guess you could say that I am trying to conserve energy for tonight. At about one thirty I went to the reef beach with Ruth Rafi and David and we rented some snorkel gear and took turns snorkeling over the reefs that are right at the shore line. They are incredible I saw yellow coral masses that probably w http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Israel/South-District/Eilat/blog-407278.html June 9thWe woke up at 630 this morning and were ready to set out for Petra at 7. We crossed the border very easily although it definitely took more time than I am used to Lol. I guess this is one of three open border crossings in Israel and we are going to a second tomorrowI was certainly more than a little wary of handing over my passport to a very nice man named Osama with just a reassuranc http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Jordan/South/Petra/blog-407275.html June 8thUp at seven to catch the public bus to Eilat. We finally get to ride on one of the innumerable green buses that are all over the place here. Said goodbye to Smore and started the 5 hour bus ride. We got here at two thirtyish and went where To the beach of course though the sand here is not as nice. From here I can see Jordan and Saudi Arabia and I know that Egypt is right around the poi http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Israel/South-District/Eilat/blog-407274.html