triumphgal

I fell asleep last night with such a strong feeling that I was home, that’s just the only way to describe how I had felt all day. It doesn’t make sense as I don’t speak Spanish or Quechuan or any other local dialect which should make me very uncomfortable. The reality is I feel safe and in love with this amazing land and the people that inhabit it. We have been treated with nothing but kindness and welcome. I have even gotten used to the habits and necessities here such as anything other than human waste goes in a waste basket otherwise the paper would clog an ancient and heavily used infrastructure. Showers are short, sunscreen, water bottle and a rain jacket are always at hand. The colours and creativity all around overwhelm the sparseness of the dry hillsides.

I awoke somewhere between 630 and 650 to lay there pondering the possibility of ever being able to come here again, perhaps to teach English in exchange for Spanish lessons. I also said a prayer for the rest of our group who were heading off to the Inca Trail today. The weather forcasted is not very nice and I hope they all stay safe and have the experience of a lifetime.

After getting ready and packing everything up I headed down for buffet breakfast which had the best smoothies. I have not eaten so much fruit in my life and feel great. Our bus and Adelki arrived to pick us up at 1030 and we were joined by Tammy, a lovely young lady from Perth who was travelling alone and the rest of her group was off on the Trail Hike. Our first stop was at Moras, the salt ponds which supply pink salt for export. The town is facinating for as a baby is born they are gifted that day with their own salt pond which is theirs for life. They are responsible for it and make the money from it. Depending which pool is available that day it may be large or small, just the luck of the draw. And if the rain washes it away in a slide they must rebuild and carry on. A family can end up having their own small industry.

Next was Moray which was built by the Incans to take advantage of the natural landscape and winds. Terraces ring the deep pit where it seems experimental gardening occured. This is why there are so many varieties of potatoes and corn in Peru. Thanks to the Incans. We took a walk and learned a great deal from our guide and then Colin and Wendy took the trail down and around the structure which didn’t take them very long but was very energy draining in the hot sun. It was here that I was so struck by the age of this place. Canada is 146 years old, as a country and has some histry prior to that but Peru is ancient, there is just so much depth, so much to learn, so much the Incans invented including water systems, syphoning, etc. We are babies by comparison.

On the way from there we took a few photo ops where there was a field of sheep and pigs with lambs and piglets running around. I find it interesting how the snow top mountains and foothills look so much like the area around Canmore and the eucalyptus trees are so big and look like arbutus. The ‘fences’ between fields are rows of huge agave plants but the Peruvians do not distill it. Nearly everyone including the guide napped on the way back to Cusco. Ruth has been very concerned about the trekkers. She is worried about them up there and I may have been abrupt with her a bit after hearing her concern and desire to know exactly where they were all the time which was impossible to know of course. I have chatted with her since and there doesn’t seem to be any ill will but I will make a point to mend that fence.

Once back we check into our hotel again and some ran off to exchange money for the walk through local areas (away from the tourista spots) to the station to buy our tickets to Machu Picchu. We had our fingers crossed they would be available for Sunday and they were! For 128 Sols the ticket is in hand and the excitement is mounting. We laughed as we scurried through traffic with one exciting crossing for Dave and I as the rest of the group watched from the far side and then CA put her hand out Monteal style for the walk back and got all her chicks across the road safely.

Nury took us to her favourite low key spot to hang out for a light dinner. Jack’s Cafe is apparently owned by an Aussie and the atmosphere, food, price and service was excellent. I highly recommend it. The conversation turned at one point to the Inca Trail and Nury was telling us of a woman who died when she walked off the trail in the fog. I saw Laureens face and asked to change the subject as her husand Craig is on the trail. She was supposed to be too but 6 months ago hurt her leg skiing and wasn’t up to it yet. One of the servers was very handsome and he was wearing a shirt that said “Status: Single” I asked to take his picture and got the best dimpled grin, we were all laughing and having a good time and even Wendy got caught letting me know he smelled good without realizing Colin was standing over her shoulder. He was a good sport though. When we were ready to leave the beautiful man asked where I was from and I also told him I would be putting his picture on facebook as my souvenir. He told me his name was Noah and got me to type mine in his phone so he could request friends. I am very sure he just wants to see the picture even if he does follow through but it was fun.

We all split up after that with CA, C&W and I wandering up the narrow streets poking in stores and picking up the odd sweater, shoes and I found my perfect tacky souvenir. It is a snow globe with Machu Picchu in it. I went back to buy the Alpaca wrap I saw two nights ago but it was all sold out in the colour I had wanted. I am learning to get what I want when I see it as no two things are exactly alike here.

Next, the other three went back to the hotel while I wandered up to the wee tattoo shop where I had booked my appointment and put down my deposit. I was greeted like a Queen, they had my pattern ready in 6 different sizes. Henry got it all ready, helped me to pick the size, made the stencil and placed it, assured me everything was clean and safe, showing me all the equipment and the sterile packaged needles, etc and then Jorge came in to do the ink. He is a sparkly eyed man who very much enjoys the fact that I ride. He would point me out to his friends as a Moto Madam. The tattoo took all of 5 or 6 minutes, he did a beautiful job and then Henry (named that because his father loved old movies) cleaned and applied plastic, wrote down the creme to get at the pharmacy and took my money. He said now you are Peruvian 🙂 Jorge posed for pictures with me and I was on my way. It is a beautiful night, just the right temperature and I was heading through the square when a procession of people carrying lanterns and playing music went by, wish I could have understood what it was for. I stopped in a little shop and purchased a pretty silver and red heart to go on my Pandora bracelet.

And now here I am in the lobby again where I have been blogging away amidst a crowd of spanish gringos. Our guide told us gringo is the word for tourist even if you are a Peruvian on holiday you are a gringo. They were all at different times talking to me and I would have to say sorry, English to their surprise. See I really do belong here!

I am going to go rest now as tomorrow is a day of museums etc and then Sunday… MP!!!!

MB in Cusco

09.20.13

PS I apologised to Ruth and she was very gracious