I can’t believe I’m only down to 2 weeks in Peru! As I reflect on all the amazing experiences I’ve had, I think about all the amazing people I’ve met and can’t help but be grateful. From locals to travelers, I have a number of memories that still bring a giant smile to my face…being known by name and greeted with kiss in a restaurant in Cusco…acting as a jungle gym for some local kids at the hot springs…playing cards for hours with some Kiwis in Arequipa…learning the proper way to take a drink in Peru—first making an offer to Pachamama (mother earth) by pouring some on the earth or blowing it into the air…and then the number of friendly conversations I’ve had (in Spanish!) with people in Ubers, coffee shops and in the street. I’d say these past 3 weeks are filled with some of the best memories though. I decided to take up one last volunteer opportunity in Yanque, a small pueblito in Colca Canyon. This workaway was at a hotel and much nicer than the others I had volunteered at—observatory, horseback rides, all meals included, a gym—I was in heaven! The first few days started out a little rough as the owner was more demanding and strict than other workaways. The environment was tense and stressful not just for the volunteers but for all the employees. As soon as he headed back to his home in Arequipa though, everything flipped. From then on out I spent the days getting to know the incredible locals who so generously invited us to events outside the hotel (weddings, baptisms, futbol games, etc) and offered advice on local hikes and viewpoints to see. A few of the highlights...-To sum up how genuinely nice people in Yanque were…on my first day after having traveled many hours and not eaten much I headed into the “town square” to find a restaurant or open store. First culture shock, Yanque is not like a city and stores/restaurants are closed more than they’re open. As I was looking at a map trying to locate something to eat a lady approached me and asked what I was searching more. After replying “something to eat”, she responded, “oh, I have a restaurant, this way”. She fixed me an omelet and only after paying did I realized that she only opened her restaurant to cook me a meal. -Meals with the locals…lunch easily became my favorite meal. Every day the volunteers and workers would eat a meal prepared by the chefs. While it was quite simple (rice, potatoes, carrots, chicken, etc—every. day.) it was such a great opportunity to get to know the locals. One afternoon we celebrated Pillar’s birthday (one of the workers) with an incredible tres leches cake and some chicha. -The wedding…one night we were invited to an after party and seeing as I was exhausted tried to get out of it by saying that all I had to wear was leggings and tennis shoes—that was no problem. I’ll do my best to create a visual…dirt floors, cases of beer everywhere, stray dogs wandering around, blasting music. Let’s just say it was about the opposite of what my sister’s wedding will be (2 weeks!). Although I sure hope a drunk grandma shows off her dance moves on stage. We were in a group of about 10 people and each person received a massive glass of chicha (fermented corn beer) and a large beer. Each beer was shared among everyone in the circle and here’s how it went…pour a little beer in a plastic cup, pass the beer, share a little with Pachamama (aka pour a splash on the ground), drink the rest and pass. Since I didn’t want to drink here’s how it went for me…pour a little beer in a plastic cup, pass the beer, give it all to Pachamama. Lucia (the restaurant chef) was next to me and after watching me do this about 20 times leans over and says “Ya, Pachamama está borracha” (Pachamama is already drunk). I guess I wasn’t as subtle as I thought I was.
…chasing Vilma’s pig through the street…playing volleyball outside in the dark…friendly locals asking you where you’re headed and where you’re from…having a dog follow me on my 28-mile hike down and back up from the canyon…horseback riding through the canyon…dancing with locals (it was quite easy to pick me out of a crowd as I’m a head taller than almost everyone)…once again, I feel like this is an experience best shared through photos.
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