Huaraz, Peru

For Easter weekend, we headed to Huaraz (a difficult 6 hour drive) with good friends to take advantage of the extra days off and enjoy the scenic snow-capped mountains.  It was so nice to get away from the desert sand and catch a glimpse of green.  Although I was extremely sick due to the altitude (note to self: take medicine in the weeks leading up to this kind of trip), it was really awesome to catch a glimpse of the life of the native people of Peru.  They speak their native Indian language and live a life that you can only imagine existed hundreds of years ago.  

There were small children as well as teenagers who tried to set traps of one kind or another to stop us along the way at various time.  You can only wonder whether or not they would have tried to rob us or if they were simply looking for handouts.  Steve had to shout at the window to let them know that we were not stopping.  We nearly hit a handful of dogs and sheep, but our friends came within inches of a poor sheep that cross the road at the wrong time.  Sometimes the travel can be a little stressful, but you just can't even really buy these experiences.  I am not sure that people will even believe me when I recount these stories in 20 years.

View from the Car

On Day 2, we headed 15 miles up into the mountains to visit Honkopampa.  A pre-Incan Ruin near a hikable waterfall.  We rode small horses to the waterfall and then hiked on foot past it.  This was definetly the highlight of the trip.  I wished I was able to take a picture of the incredible scene.  10 of us on horseback, led by tradional Quenchan people into the hills.  I was holding Sophie, so the camera stayed in the bag.   

Just snagged this from Cherilyn's blog:

On a road much like the one below, I even saw a girl with down syndrome dressed in traditional clothing with her basket of laundry that she was taking to the stream.

Traveling unmarked dirt road through tradional Indian villages.

Cade, Sophia, Abe, Peyton and Will

At the waterfall

Abe's horse and Guide

And in case we hadn't had enough time to really soak in the views, our friend's car was stuck in the mud on the way to see the Ruins after the hike.  It took 3 hours to realize that the engine block was stuck in the mud. Every trip needs a little story to tell, right?   

Entrance to the Ruins: $1

Horseback Ride to the Waterfall: $3

3 hours with native Quechuan people trying to dig the car out of the mud: PRICELESS.

It gave the kids a chance to play in the pond and get really muddy:

Don't miss the ruins in the background, sheep wandering into the scene near the car, native Quechan people lending thier assistance and Scott praying for a successful pull.

A few more tourists to help and some time later, this was the final push:

The reason for the trip:

Huascaran (22,205ft) - Can you see the snow capped peaks above the clouds?

Lake Llaganuco

 Pre-Incan Ruins at 14,000+ ft

This face in the snow was extremely amusing.  I think that it looks like Darth Vader.  Do you see it?

Our favorite thing about traveling is seeing just how people really live.  This village is quite large considering it's location.  There are only small footpaths into this agricultural village.  Just imagine how removed from the world they are.  Incredible.

The Sacred Valley

The Sacred Valley is an incredible place.  Simply Beautiful.

Just look at those fingers.

Sophia loved this little llama.  My mom has a better photo somewhere.

This llama farm was one of our favorite stops.

The kids learned firsthand how wool is dyed.

This was our guide at the farm.  He kept the kids stocked with greens.

Sacred Valley

Market Center in Pisac

This is Ollantaytambo - the last stop for vehicles.  You have to take the train the rest of the way to Machu Picchu.  We spent a night here after train service was cancelled due to high rain waters.  This entire town was constructed by Incans and was an Incan stronhold during the Spanish Conquest. 

These women are using the running water to wash their clothes.

Ruins built into the side of the mountain.

New construction built on old.

This is inside the traditional home from the photo above. There were guinea pigs being raised for this month's dinner and strange skulls nestled in wall niches.  I felt bad for taking photos, so I bought a small wool cardigan for Sophia.

If Abe had his way, he would have wandered through the maze of streets for hours looking for secret hideouts.

I spent the day chewing on coca leaves and cloves hoping that the pain of the abscess would subside.  I searched high and low looking for a decent pain killer.  As it turns out, anything with addictive qualities is illegal here in Peru because they cannot properly regulate the pharmacies.

In and Around Cusco

We visted the main plaza and the Incan Ruins that were converted into a monasary with the coming of the Spanish as well as other smaller ruins around the city.  It is a cool little city.  I would love to go back for a day or two to enjoy the show performed in the plaza every night and a little shopping.

Cusco on a cloudy day

Ruins always come alive for me when there are plants. It helps me to visualize the activity within the walls of the compound hundreds of years ago.

The merging of cultures

Have I told you lately how much Norman means to me?

Nina and Papa

Thank goodness for the baby backpack - all $39.99 of it.

If you look closely at my left jaw, you can see that it is beginning to swell.

No trip is complete with a little show of testosterone.

The altitude affected each one of us at different times during the trip. 

Funky Restaurant

Well, it seems that I am on a blogging roll, so there is not need to stop now.  I have loads of photos that need to be blogged because this is the only journal I keep.

I mentioned before that our trip to Cusco was interesting.  We landed, dropped off our bags at the hotel and then asked the guide to take us to a nice restaurant, but one that is also kid-friendly.  We were thinking along the lines of a play place or somewhere that they will give you a cup of crayons.  A place where we wouldn't intereup other diners, but still get a good meal.

They obviously were not on the same page. I wish that you could feel the old worn cushions that engulfed your thighs and the see the look on my mom's face when we walked in.  Classic.

Stuffed animals were everywhere.  They had to move them out of the seats that we were offered.  There was even a strage beanie baby sewn onto the toilet seat cover.  They insisted that the place was pretty new (that could be relative), but everything had seen much better days.

The bar was filled with colorful glass vases, many handblown.

There was even window seating for a nice afternoon.

An huka pipes at the end of the bar. What?  So this is when I began to think that this was not a child's place at all, but more of a get high and have an Alice in Wonderland experience kind of place.  However they did have brochure for children's parties.  

And the beloved check box.  Our bill came nicely nestled in this little box and our change was returned the same way.  What a perfectly strange ending to this perfectly strange dining experience.  

However, they did serve us a decent quinoa soup.

Machu Picchu

Nina and Papa came to visit for the couple of weeks at the end of February.  The whole visit is a little fuzzy because I was on pain meds dealing with a major tooth abscess.  We took a great trip to Machu Picchu.  Most trips have a little something or other unexpected, but this was a trip loaded with gliches.  I think that I might need an return trip.  Time will tell...

As for the ruins, they are more magnificent and breathtaking than any photo can capture.  It was totally worth the trip.

If you are interested in our 4 minute video recapping most of the trip, click here.

First Day of School - March 8, 2011

In an attempt to catch up a bit, I have a few sets of photos to add.

This was Sophia's first day of preschool and Peyton's first day of Kindergarten.  She will start again in August on the American school calendar year.

She managed to stick a small flower up her nose just as I took the picture.

2 months later, she really loves going to school.

I thought that this Kinder would be pretty laid back as it is in the preschool.  But as it turns out,  they are serious and have something to prove. :)  Peyton is learning cursive everyday (I think that 5 is a little young, but it can't hurt, right?) and is really starting to read in spanish.  She brings home 40-60 of homework everyday.  Crazy.  The playdoh was misleading. lol

Petting Zoo

Feb 18, 2011

Sophia was in heaven.  She would pick up a chick, put it in her basket and then tip it just enough that the chick would open it's wings just in time to fall back onto to hay.

Sophia doesn't ever get tired of animals.  This was pure joy on her face. 

Driving the wagon like grandpa in Nauvoo

Abe has had many opporturtunities to ride quads, but this was Peyton's first.  She loved it.  Next time we might need to find her a helmet. 

A special thanks to my friend Ivanna who knows this city inside and out.  She knows where all the gems are hidden throughout the city.

  

Confession

I love living overseas.  I love to see my children learn a new language.  I love access to an International School Private education that I could never afford if we lived in the States.  I love all of the people that we meet from around the world and learning about their life experiences.  I love living in a rent-free house.  I love that the only utility bill I ever see is for the phone.  I love serving the Peruvian people and the real assistance that I can give.

And without pointing out all of the difficulties (all of the benefits come at a hefty price), I miss decorating my own home the most.  I browse DIY home decorating sites and I long for the day when I can really have a house that I love.  One where I never think about the exit date and do not have to ask myself if a purchase is really worth the amount of time that I will be able to enjoy it.

And sadly, I think that I long for this because it just isn't in the cards - maybe ever.  Am I really going to move every 2 years for the rest our working life?  If I had to hedge my bets, my chips would be on yes. And most days that feels exciting and others, it just feels like I left so much behind.  We serve our country because we love it and I wouldn't mind getting to enjoy it someday. :)

Just sayin'.