Coming Home

Our last hours in Lima, Peru sunset on the Pacific Ocean

As weekends, summers and all things golden pass quickly so it has too with our travel adventure.  We are looking forward to starting a new phase in Kentucky but the currently foreign life tasks of employment, housing, insurance, make us consider catching a flight to Bolivia.  But the next season of life is here and remembrances and the nostalgia of this trip will always be sweet.

I set out with an elementary interest in Ecuador, which grew into a fascination with the sights - islands and sea, unique Galapagos animals, cloud forest, lively cities, stunning Andes mountains, the simple serene shepherd's life and the gracious presence of many we met.  I will forever cherish the shared moments with others, our welcoming Marta, our Quito home with Gloria Ines, international trekking and class mates, missionaries Crouses, Cruces and people of Tarma.

After experiencing an unsustainable pace of life in New Hampshire, our roaming in South America was a salve to my soul.  I set out to experience the land, meet people and being helpful if possible, this was accomplished along with a clarity of values, continued awe of nature, fascinating conversations and rejuvenated hope in humanity from time spent with locals and travelers from all over the world.  I also return welled up with love, smiles and admiration for this great guy I got to travel with and helped make my 4th grade dream a reality.

Interesting sticker on hostel door where we stayed our last night in Peru :)

Inca Sites around Cusco

Inca fortress Sacsaywaman on a hill outside Cuzco

Bike ride with a memorable local guide after a truly Peruvian down home bus ride

Common to see random farm animals wherever

Moray: an experimental agricultural terraces to test optimal climate for crops

Salinas: a hot spring at the top of the valley has salt-laden water that a local co-op created salt pans to collect

Comida Deliciosa

Although notably impressed with the food cooked for us while trekking, an even greater unexpected bonus found in the urban areas of Peru was the insanely delicious gourmet food at a totally reasonable price.  Mouthwatering trout, pesto/roasted tomato tapas, roasted lamb, juicy alpaca fillet, mint sweet potato mash, ceviche (raw seafood marinated in lime juice), quinoa soup, fresh squeezed tropical fruit juice, duck with curry sauce, and we even enjoyed the coy (guinea pig).  The taste sensation was a major highlight as we'd savor each bite of new recipes, often siting at balcony tables and savoring the time together.

Machu Picchu

View from the Sungate, once the fog cleared.

After three days of hiking, ascending and descending on the Inca trail in the cloud forest mountains we made it our final campsite.  After a lovely dinner, Matthew was chosen as our group spokesperson to give a speech (which the guide translated into Quechua the native language) of thanks to our 14 person crew workers of porters, cooks and assistants.  

3am we wake up, flip on our headlights and in the pitch dark we start the trek to the Sungate and final destination: Machu Picchu.  Keeping an unnaturally rapid pace, spurred by excitement and a little delirium, we make it to the Sungate pass to catch early dawn views of Machu Picchu in the distance - to find a thick fog and no view whatsoever.  Taking a seat on the terraces we accept irony as we eat our breakfast and welcome the reasonably paced hikers we blazed past on the trail now joining us, as we all wait for the fog to clear, which thankfully it did.

After another bit of hiking we finally arrived at the Machu Picchu site which was truly breathtaking with the stunning jagged green mountains spiking up all around you.  We toured around the ruins and our guide described fascinating explanations of building feats, religious rituals, Inca heritage, stone construction and more.  

We were able to get a day pass access to Huayna Picchu and even though being exhausted (and the the utter surprise of our trek mates that we were going to do more hiking than necessary) we ascended the precarious steps up to the top of Huayna Picchu the mountain seen in the back of traditional Machu Picchu pictures.  On this mountian there were really unique little structures, fabulously old looking steps, breathtaking drop-offs and sweet views of Machu Picchu.  A major highlight of the day.

On Huayna Picchu

Snacking on lunch and lounging on the grass in Machu Picchu we encountered some totally great lamas who were hanging out with us enjoying the finally sunny day.  It was a peaceful spot, the scenery as much as the history.  One of the few Inca sites we visited that wasn't invaded by the Spanish when they destroyed the Inca culture by colonization, likely a benefit of it's remote location.  

Finally we walked around the ruins a last time, peeked in little stone huts, traced our fingers on the stone seams of the giant walls, watched the water trickle down from high up the mountain into a stone pool and then down to the next and the next and we took the old stone steps down back into the valley to catch a train back to Cusco. 

The outskirts of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu.  (Huayna Picchu peak in the background which we climbed up steep stairs and interesting trail to see a reverse view of Machu Picchu)

Trekking on the Inca Trail

Our hiking buddies from UK, Ireland and Panama

A typical style of a porter's pack, although this one is on the small side

Our base camp hut the first night of camping

Breakfast at base camp. Throughout the trek we were throughly impressed with the taste and quality of the food prepared for us.

Sayacmarca an Inca site on the trail to Machu Picchu with great views of the surrounding valley. 

Hiking up to the second pass.

Descending the side of the mountain at the Sun Terraces. 

Wake up Tea.  Each morning we were greeted by Delia our guide (on the right) and the cook assistant wanting to know what our morning hot drink selection to enjoy while still in the sleeping bag.  This is not American backpacking.

Runkurakay a Inca tambo or resting place for couriers carrying messages to and from Machu Picchu.

Scared Valley

Happy Halloween

Fun festivities all weekend long during Halloween.  On the 31st hundreds of children and their families flooded the Plaza de Armas (the main square) to "trick or treat" in their cute costumes until late into the night.  The two days after Halloween, All Saints and All Souls Day are be celebrations where Peruvians go to the cemeteries where their family members are buried to remember those who have died. 

Our Freshet Cup of Coffee EVER

Packaging coffee on a warm day

While at the Crouse's house we had the pleasure of meeting Carlos and offered a little help to him sorting through green coffee beans, picking out the ones that were too yellow, had brown spots or otherwise defective.  Part of the Crouse's work is to assist local coffee farmers to improve their product and find more stable markets to sell.  After a batch of sorting was complete, we had the delight of accompanying JR taking the coffee beans to be roasted and packaged.  After a fantastic drive down into the jungle we arrived at a friendly small time roasting place we were able to see first hand the process and a glimpse into Cosmic Cafe production.  The place smelled wonderful, I was loving the hot weather and learning what goes into a cup of joe.  After a great day we drove home, opened a package of the coffee and enjoyed our freshest cup of coffee ever.

Coffee Tree

Taking the shell off so just a green coffee bean is left

Dark Roast

Friends and Family will be enjoying this Peruvian Coffee

Santuario Nacional Huayllay - Rock Forest

Youth Leaders Summit

Matt & I had the pleasure of working with JR and Pastor Miguel to prepare and participate a weekend event of youth (age 17-30) from all over Peru coming together to develop their leadership skills, discuss how to support the vision of the local church, to gain a sense of support even though not all physically near and to have a good time together.  Matt & I were able to use experiential activities and create a makeshift challenge course at a local park to help supplement the talking sessions with Pastor Miguel and JR.  It was a great group of people, enthusiastic and full with potential.  We hope the best for each of them and we will not soon forget them.