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Published: April 13th 2008
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Flying High and Bailing Out Boats
I can’t believe that has been over a month now that I have been living in Cusco. I have had heaps of incredible experiences, and I have a few more to add to the list. April Fool’s Day this year was very special for me ~ not because someone pulled an amazing prank ~ but because I spent the day hurling myself off a cliff and flying high above Sacred Valley. Paragliding was one of the coolest things I have ever experienced in my life. It definitely bumped its way into top five….What are the coolest things I have ever done anyway? Hmm… Anywayyyys. Tuesday morning, Tara, Christina and I made our way into town and met with our pilot and his assistant. We drove for about forty five minutes from the main square to our flying spot. I spent pretty much the entire drive half full of excitement and half full of disbelief that I was actually about to chuck myself off a cliff. Turns out, it’s actually not that scary. You get all harnessed in with your seat on like a backpack and the pilot strapped in behind and you are
both attached to the huge wing that is spanned out behind both of you. Unfortunately, we had a pretty calm day, so we spent a lot of time waiting around and encouraging the wind to pick up. We tried songs, dances, and Tara was convinced that every time she pushed me or Christina, the wind would get stronger. Anyway, when the time was right, the pilot (Jose), would count to three and then you would have to try to run as fast as you could towards the edge of the cliff. Before you know it, you can’t touch the ground any more, and then all of the sudden the ground is REALLY far away! We spent about half an hour flying above Sacred Valley. Jose would climb us higher and higher, directing the wing around the thermals. Landing was really fun as well…you basically just hold up your legs and thud to the ground on your bum in some random farmer’s field…I would highly recommend this experience to everyone!
By the end of that week, everyone from the March team had continued on to the next leg of their life, and Christine and I were off to Puerto Maldonado
for an Amazon adventure. We were really excited because we had been promised visits to “Monkey Island”, to the clay licks where all the Macaws and parrots go, to a native village, and we were especially excited to do the canopy walk across the top of the jungle. After a short flight from Cusco, the two of us stepped out onto the tarmac to be greeted by heat, humidity and palm trees. Our guide, Carlos, picked us out of the crowd and once we were joined by the only member of our tour group, a Dutchman named Dennis, we were on our way. Soon we were on a boat ride down the Madre de Dios river, which got us to the beginning of our long trek to our lodge. The four of us got off the boat, wriggled on our gumboots, and started off down one of the muddiest paths I have ever had to navigate. I ate it twice on the way into the lodge, and arrived saturated in mud, but still in good spirits. There are tons of cool trees in the Amazon forest ~ did you know there is such thing as a walking tree? It literally
walks! We also got to see lots of wild life. I saw four different species of monkeys, caimans, different types of birds, butterflies, tarantulas, a wolf spider, some other insects, and some otters. The highlight of the trip for me was definitely when we ended up walking into this big troupe of squirrel monkeys…there were hundreds of them all climbing and jumping through the trees. So cute! The trip was disappointing though, because we did not get to do any of the things we were expecting. We basically spent the entire time either paddling around in a leaky canoe on Sandoval Lake (which I spent half the time bailing out), or walking on little paths through the forest. Towards the end of the tour, I had the feeling of “just get me out of this jungle!” Lesson learned, stick with reputable travel companies.
By the time we got home, everyone from the new team had arrived. We have a really good team again this month, and I really like the house I have moved into and my new housemates. I have to admit, life is much cleaner, sanitary and organized in the upper house. This month is flying by…I
have one week left of working at the school. The week after that I am visiting Sacred Valley and then doing the Maccu Piccu Trek, and then that’s it! I am off to fend for myself…I am stressing a little these day because I still haven’t booked anything. Also, having my wallet stolen has definitely made things a little bit more complicated. Oh right….did I mention that? Ya, I went to a big soccer game between Cusco and Brazil, which was packed with people, which made it next to impossible to find transportation home. We finally found a bus that would take us near to where we wanted to be, and in the fraction of a second it took me to step off the street and into the bus, someone took my wallet from my pocket. What’s even worse is I had my wallet in my hand the whole time, I only took my hand out of my pocket to get into the bus! Luckily, I didn’t have very much money on me, but unluckily I am now without a bank card….grrr.
Overall, I am doing really well though. Work at the school has been going really well and
we are almost done painting the Mother’s Building. Things are also a little more organized and together this month, so more is getting done.
Take care and keep in touch!!!
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Coffeecat
Fiona Scott
solo sister? Nooo-CRAZY SISTA?!
Love it love it love it my dearest! You really seem to be living the life and I can't wait to hear more about your solo excursions coming up-KEEP US POSTED!!! Cheers sweetpea! Fiona