Trekking in the Colca Canyon

Driving anywhere from Puno provides pastoral views and experiences with herds of alpacas, sheep, cattle, and an occasional vicuna, which is the smallest and most delicate of the llama/alpaca family. We saw many on our way west to the Colca Canyon. The shepherds are always close by, while the guard dogs seem to hang by the road. We thought they were posted there to keep the herd from wandering onto the roads. Turns out they are not that well-trained, they are simply waiting for motorists to throw them food.

Precious faces!

The Colca Canyon is said to be the deepest canyon in the world, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. After hiking down (way down), along, then back up.....I believe them!

It is also known for its soaring condors; poor guys have no muscles to fly. They have to hang out until they can catch a ride on an updraft.

No.....these are just local chickens where we stayed at Roy's place. How Quechua or Spanish is that? The condors were too far away for my camera.

In the town of Chivay they were having their annual dance festival. Outstanding costumes! While sick Bev hung out in the bathroom, Scott met the locals.

A couple of canyon views. We had a great guide for 4 days. He was born in the canyon, but left at the age of 11 for more education. When he pointed out his village high on a ledge down in the canyon, we knew why he was in such good shape. The remote villages were fascinating-tough people! The only mode of travel is by foot or mule. To climb out of the canyon they usually travel during the night to avoid the heat. We could watch their single lights climbing the canyon walls.

View down to the Colca River

Exploring

We took a day trip to explore and hike at Llachon, a small community to the north. It is such a tranquil setting with very friendly people, who are motivated to develop some ecotourism. Some of you know about my thing for hats, so I just loved these Quechua hats on these women spinning their yarn in the main square.

We took a hike along old pre-Inca and Inca trails they are preparing for tourists. It was fun to see many of the terraces still in use, farmers and their animals out working the hillsides.

Home Sweet Home!

Our home is a 4 bedroom, 2 bath apartment on the 4th floor just 1 1/2 blocks from the main plaza. During the week we awaken every morning at about 6:30 to our landlady, Carmen, playing her music as she opens her little snack shop/store on the first floor. She is a character! We have scrubbed and scrubbed, and to Carmen's amusement have used many of her wooden fruit crates to create our kitchen shelves. She was kind enough to also loan us a refrigerator and two burner propane cookstove. We be stylin'!

The rooftop is a fun place for a relaxing view of night lights, early morning view (as in photo) or to snoop on neighbors and surroundings. It is also where we do our laundry, and are learning to be very careful so as not to let the wind carry any more laundry to the streets below!

First Community Healthcare Visit

Sunday was our first visit to two church communities near the northern end of Lake Titicaca. Ten of us crammed into our 4-runner for the 4 hour drive, chattering and singing in 4 languages. Spanish, Quechua, Aymara, English. What a riot!

This is Jessica, wife of Venancio, District Superintendent. Their 3 month old son, Cristian is about to meet his great-grandma for the first time!








We passed many of these 3oo year old homes made of adobe along the way. The special design was to protect from the rain.












Pablo had to tie down his sheep before he could come to the service and meeting.

Water is a severe problem in these, as well as other communities. The communities we met with had no potable water, and very little water for their cattle and sheep. The churches were very interested in implementing a community healthcare project, and have invited us back to meet with their community leaders. As always, our main concern is sustainability!

Our landlady is a real character, and has a small snack/misc. shop on the first floor. She and two of her grown kids live in the building too, and although she says frequently how happy to have us all together as family, Scott is still "meester." Just like our kitchen in Boise....right? Our interior design includes two burner propane stovetop and small fridge, and cupboards made from our landlady's fruit crates.

Driving Lima to Puno

Scott and Lucho Nakagawa getting our new Toyota 4 Runner ready for the road.

This is a church project outside of Ica on the coast. A bad earthquake here two years ago left many homeless, including these children. They receive one meal a day and a safe haven when parents are away.

All of the shifting sands were just like snowstorms at home. Being down to one lane with all of their truck traffic is a bit unnerving.


















The Peruvian coast has hundreds of miles of wild coastline and very barren landscape. We felt like we were in Saudi Arabia. The steep drop offs would make nail biters of all of you hating heights. Guard rails? Are you kidding?

Bev and Rev.Guillermo in a veryvery poor area outside of Arequipa. This settlement has no water, makeshift homes and is mainly families who have migrated from Cusco and Puno looking for work.

Inside this humble church they sit on rocks and bricks for pews.

Proof we have arrived in Puno!

We met with this Peru/Bolivia delegation today to plan our year together with our new Peru/Bolivia Lake Titicaca Border Mission. They are very excited to put the church into action regarding healthcare, water systems, and improving the lives in their communities.

This last week has reminded us of how thankful we are for all we have been blessed with.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!!!

Getting our act together....

Our hostess Liz (an M.D. in Lima) is having to keep an eye on her brother-in-law Willy's blood pressure.....oh those stress inducing Pressmans!

Lucho Nakagawa (Liz's husband) and Eliana Abarca (Liz's sister). Eliana is the travel agent many of you will meet in Cusco. Lucho speaks English and has been our car expert....a marvelous help negotiating red tape.

Scott getting used to our new little notebook computer in our temporary office suite in the national offices of the Iglesia Metodista Evangelica Peru.

Shhh....we are hiding from Lima. We have come to the quiet of our "suite" in the national offices of the Iglesia Metodista Evangelica Peru to get some work done and escape the large city noise and chaos for a few hours.

We have learned in just the past few days that everything you read about needing to pack flexibility and a sense of humor is absolutely positively true! To come into a new culture and to try to accomplish things like buying a used car, obtaining a longer term visa and opening a bank account are suddenly monumental tasks requiring days. All new rules and laws.....about which of course we knew nothing. For others coming to Peru for a year wanting to do similar things a word of warning: you DO need a carnet extranjeria, contrary to what you may hear before you arrive.

Our friends and the Methodist administrative staff are all patient and love to laugh....a huge help as we maneuver through the Peruvian system....and then we get to do it in Bolivia as well!

Packing and Preparing....

Thank you for finding our blog again! We leave bright and early tomorrow morning for Lima for our year as volunteers in mission through the Methodist Church. We have many unknowns to take care of in Lima (used car to hopefully buy, bank account to hopefully set up) and then on to Puno (home to hopefully find!).

In spite of the many piles of things in our Boise condo waiting to be packed, we must remember to leave room for our senses of humor! For both of us there have been long lists, last minute stresses, some difficult farewells. For both of us know there will soon be warm greetings, new adventures, and a wealth of cultural experiences. It is one of those life experiences where you hop on the train and hold on for the ride!