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Published: August 13th 2006
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The Flag of the Great Incas
Confusing travellers for the past hundred years, this rainbow flag is not symbolizing gay pride all over Peru, in fact it is the Tawantinsuyo (Inca) flag! I waited patiently for the perfect wave to wash over my sun burned feet and to pull the sand away from underneath my blisters, it came unexpectedly and rushed away quickly to join the surfers, the lone pelican and the other cool waves of the pacific. The exhilarating wave came and went just about as quick and refreshing as the past twelve days have. Each day has been a racing melody of sights, sounds, faces, places, jugos de pina, altitude sickness, good friends and good times. Now, in just three weeks Lindsay and I will go once again through bus rides, line ups, security, more security, air plane food, line ups and car rides, and we will be back in Canada. In our separate homes and beds. Que loco! The past two weeks can best be summarized through the photos, but most moments deserve at least a few lines to explain. Here are a few of the best:
LIMA: It is safe to say 95% of Peruvians are wonderful and hospitable people, at least in my experience. Within five minutes after take off from Buenos Aires to Lima I had a Peruvian family ready to adopt me or at least
First night in Lima
My first Peruvian friends! to take me from the airport to my hostel. Giovanna and her parents had been spending one week in Buenos Aires and were heading home to Lima. Their sons and cousins picked us up at the air port, we all loaded into their big truck and they took me on a city tour at 2am. Also, according to the sons, I couldn't go to bed without trying a typical Peruvian beer, so we went out in Miraflores for a few rounds of Pilsen. I got into my hostel bed at four am, my head spinning and my heart warm, knowing that anywhere you go there are friendly people whose arms are open and as Pablo said, 'we always have a little corner of our hearts for tourists!'
Mike arrived the next day from Montreal where he had been attending a government sponsored French Camp. It has been quite entertaining for me listening to him speak French to Spanish speakers, Portuguese and Spanish to the French guys and Spanglish to the rest of us! So cute. We sped walked around Lima in the morning and then flew to Cuzco.
CUZCO - SALKANTAY TREK - MACHU PICCHU: Despite one twisted
knee at 4am the day of the hike (Michelle), Altitude sickness all around, Stomach bugs biting in every way possible and too much carbs for breakfast during the hike, we all survived and thrived during our trek through the Peruvian Andes. We were rewarded by Pacha Mama (The Goddess of Nature or Mother Nature) with an awesome sunrise at 5am in the sacred Incan city of Machu Picchu.
We were 11 people in our self named ' BURRO POWER' (Donkey Power) group. Our two guides were great, informed, fun, helpful, and good singers, the group consisted of two hard core French guys: Gaz and Thierry, A sweet Catalan couple: Aina and Roger, Anne from Deutschland just starting a one year round the world trip, One Mr. Keith Dickey from NY, USA who always had a story to tell and a smile that stole hearts, and of course, Michelle, Dan, Lindsay, Mike and I, friends from home. Together we struggled up mountains, ate soup in the sunshine, had late night sing alongs to stay warm, and witnessed the beauty of nature and history of Peru's great Incan civilization, encouraged, complained, laughed and cried. There is just too much to say
Okanagan in Cuzco
Okanagians in Peru, UNITE! Here we are, Mike (summerland), Dan (penticton), Michelle (kelowna / deutschland / guatemala) and yours truly, all together again in Cuzco! It was great to see each other (despite to altitude sickness)! about this trek, this place, this country. I simply cannot explain in words the majestic mountains, the rural villages, the chilly sleeping bags and the warm hugs after a long day's trek. You'll just have to invite Lindsay and I over for a Chai tea if you want to hear more about it!
JUGO DE PINA (pineapple juice): It reminds me of Costa Rican mornings, It would remind me of heaven if I'd been there, it is the best juice in the world. Freshly blended pineapple juice. Cool, tart, sweet, smooth, delicious. This is not one thing a photo nor words can describe, but will remain close to my heart and hopefully my stomach for ever!
THUNDER, LIGHTENING and FULL MOON: The late night LAN 028 flight from Cuzco to Trujillo was marvelous. Only 2 hours actually but took about 10, (stop over in Lima and line ups). As most people watched Just for Laughs and ate their soggy ham sandwiches, I stared outside into the magical sky. The moon was full and gently lit up the sea of clouds below. In the distance a storm was in full swing. Red and Orange lightening gave action and fury
Chan Chan Ruins
More ruins of the Chimu people, (1200-1480 AC so, pre-Inca )The diamond shape walls represented fishing nets, this design served as decoration and ventilation to the melancholic sky. It was gorgeous.
HUANCHACO - NORTHERN PERU: How many flights must we take until we know all the exits of the plane and how to safely secure our oxygen masks? How many times must a woman burn the tops of her feet before she remembers to put sunscreen on that sensitive spot? Yes and how many knick knacks must one buy, before a 40L backpack weighs over 25kilos? The answers my friends, are blowing in the wind, the wind over the sandy ruins of Chan Chan in Huanchaco Peru, you should go there. Mike and I visited the ruins today. They were so different from the Incan ruins in and around Cuzco. Tomorrow we will visited a temple made for the moon, the moon was much more important than the sun for the Chimu people, as they lived connected to the ocean, who lives connected to the moon. Yeah, also, too much to write about. Check out the Chimu people and Chan Chan ruins on Wikipedia.
Now, as Mike leaves on the 14th, and Lindsay, Michelle and Dan are in Bolivia, I have two weeks essentially alone before heading back to Buenos Aires to
Moray
50km outside of Cuzco three enormous terraced circular depressions sit in the ground. These unusual depressions represent the Sun, the Moon and the Stars. They were used by the Incans to experiment agriculture and to meditate. say good bye to that wonderful place I have come to miss while being in Peru. The ice cream here just doesn't compare! I am thinking about going to the beach town of Mancora and possibly to Cuenca Ecuador. We'll see, everything is still blowing in the wind.
Time for dinner and a good sleep. Mainly I am excited about breakfast tomorrow morning at the place we're staying. It's called 'MY FRIEND' and has the best breakfasts in Peru, the best part ... the fresh juices!
Well, hopefully I don't have too many spelling mistakes and that you enjoy the pictures!
Love always,
Your Jenica
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todo q puedo decir es......3 semanitas hasta dave matthews!! yahoo!!