Words fail me to even know where to begin with describing my trip to Cuzco, Macchu Picchu, and the surrounding areas. Four of our teammates left Peru on a Sunday, those of us who remained spent the whole day on Monday with our Peruvian friends and family and then prepared for the arrival of four other friends from Oregon who arrived on Tuesday night. The transition was a fast one but it seemed to go really smoothly. Eight of us headed to the airport early on Wednesday to start our big trek of the unknown. We arrived in Cuzco (at 11,000 ft.)Wednesday late morning and were picked up by a cab from our hostel that Raul (the pastor) set up for us. We were told by people who have been to Cuzco before to take it easy on the first day there because the elevation can really be tough. We werent really sure what to expect but we decided to take it easy anyways, just in case. My friend Emily and I definitely experienced a bit of the altitude. It was hard going from basically sea level to 11,000 ft. Our symptoms werent horrible and they definately could have been worse but it was kind of a rough day.
Traveling with eight people can defintely present it´s difficulties. We spent most of the first day talking about what we wanted to do and trying to get on the same page about things. After a lot of talking (and translating..my friend Elyse waas amazing about that for us!) we finally came to some rough conclusions. A few people really loved Cuzco and wanted to stay there an extra day to see some of the sights (which were really neat) but a couple of us wanted to go travel more outside of Cuzco and be really intentional about the little time we had. So, thankfully we all agreed, and everyone was excited about the choice they had made. Even though it was kind of sad splitting up, it really ended up working out the best because our group was so big, it would have been very challenging traveling together.
My friend Emily and I decided to split off from the group. She had done a lot of research before she came down to Peru so she had a really good handle on what she wanted to see and the places we could go. I was so thankful for that! We had a little direction from our tour guide of sorts, he took us to get a cab the next morning and we were on our way, with nothing but a backpack! It was probably the most freeing feeling to just go, simplistically, with only a few necessities.
Our final destination that day was Aguas Calientes (which is right at the base of Macchu Picchu) but there were a few things we had to do before we got there. Our cab driver was amazing because he was, in a sense, our own tour guide. He would stop and let us take pictures along the way and he would wait for us at the main areas we wanted to see. We made two detour stops along the way, and i am so glad we did. The first stop we made was in Moray. In Moray there are Incan farming ruins. They are a series of cicular terraces that go down 150meters deep. What the teraces did was create their own micro climate which was used for experimental farming. It was fascinating! The other place we stopped was about 20 minutes drive from Moray to a place called Selenas. In Selenas they have what are called Salt Mines. The whole valley is covered in white (which looks like snow) but it is salt! Also Incan made, the salt mines are a series of all these pools. There is a run off from the hot springs which flow into each of these pools. Canals were made so that each pool had just the right amount of water. The water sits in the pools in the intense sun for 10 days. After the ten days, the water has turned to salt and is ready to be harvested. Each pool (after the 10 days) contains (i can´t remember the exact number) 20 plus tons of salt! The salt mines were definitely a high light for me.
We made it a town called Ollyatatambo which was were we were catching a train from to Aguas Calientes. Emily and i both feel in love with Ollay. and decided we wanted to come back and stay there after our time in Macchu Picchu. Ollay. was one of the coolest, endearing little cities i have ever been to. Sorrounded by majestic mountains and filled with incredible heritage. The streets are cobblestone and they have canals flowing with water through the little alley ways of the city. Other than being surrounded by mountains, it is also surrounded by ruins, which are just so vast and awe striking. The people also were incredible...so beautiful in their gentle and sometimes quiet hospitality. I definitely could have stayed in Ollay. for a few more days, even after we came back and stayed an extra day exploring.
We arrived late evening in Aguas Caleintes. And by the grace of God had a reservatoin for a hostel there. It was kind of hilarious (and so much an act of God) because i had to (in my broken spanish) call and make reservtions to hostels along the way. On my end of the hearing spectrum, i made no sense at all but by a work of God, they understood me and we were able to get everything we needed! God is funny. We woke up early the next morning to beat the crowds in Macchu Picchu and we also really wanted to hike this mountain called Wynu Picchu (which they only allow 300 or so people a day to climb). We arrived in Macchu at around 630 am but apparently not early enough to make it in the 300 to hike Waynu. Apparently people were in line by 4 that morning. We took our time taking in the vastness of Macchu Picchu and then decided to hike Mt. Macchu Picchu. It was incredible and pretty intense. It was about 2,000 ft. higher than Macchu Picchu all in stone stairs! It took us about an hour and a half to make it to the top. We were so glad we did it at the time we did because it was HOT! The sun was super intense and if we had done it any later it would have been kind of scary. We were told before we left for Macchu that we had to leave our backpacks and water behind so we had nothing except some Cliff Bars in our pockets. It was dissapointing because everyone had packs and water that they brought in, we were just misinformed. So, we are glad we didn´t do it any later, especially since we didn´t have water.
We left Macchu Picchu around one so that we could catch our train back to Ollay. We were so glad to be leaving when we did because all of the bus tours started showing up and it was crowded!!! Too crowded! We arrived in Ollay. in the evening, had a yummy dinner and roamed the streets. It was great how safe we felt there! The next day we took a long walk down this dirt trail along the river, in the glorious sun, and had a great time talking and seeing all the little villages along the way. We loved watching the people work and play and even was given a mini tour of a little ruin by an elderly man on the road...it was really special!
I would love to write more and give more details, as my heart is overflowing with excitement from the trip but time is failing me right now. I will try and write more later. I said my goodbyes to my friends yesterday and i have been a bit sad and lonely without them. I love my Peruvian fam but i defintely feel a void without my friends. I leave Friday morning for the States. It feels weird but i am anxious to see you all and catch up! Please pray for me as i´m feeling lonely. That i will make good use of my time and that I can still connect with my family even though the language gap is there.
Love to you all!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Finally, an update!
It has been a whirlwind last couple of weeks and i have regretfully not had a chance to send an update, and for that, i apologize. I´ll do my best to sum up the past...i dont know, 2 weeks or so. Thank you all for praying for the Vacation Bible School, it was an amazing, exhausting, 5 days but God really moved in the lives of the kids and the lives of us, as a team. Elyse, one of the girls on our team taught the Bible studies for the kids. She taught on Ephesians chapter one and chapter two. Her heart, as with all of ours as well, was to teach the kids about the depth of the love the Father has for them. She really wanted to hit home the message that God has chosen them from before the foundation of the world. We labored in prayer for these kids that they would understand the weighty, yet simplistic truth of the Gospel that lies in the love and sacrifice of Jesus. Over and over again Elyse would tell the kids that God chose us not becuase of something we did to earn His favor (because we all have sinned and fallen short of God´s glory) but because He loved us, period. Honestly, it was a good reminder for me as well. I often forget about the hieghth and the depth of the love the Father has for me: I often forget to sit and reflect on this love and basque in it and let it change the way i walk out my daily life...as a daugther who is loved by the Most High God, because He loves, and for no other reason.
We were so thankful to have the team here, especially during the Vacation Bible School. It was so amazing because they were able to bring down a guitar which facilitated a lot of deep times of worship in song not only between us a team but with our Peruvian friends and family as well. We spent a lot of nights downstairs sitting around singing praises to God in English and in Spanish and I would have to say those were some of the sweetest times of this trip for me. Remembering that one day all nations will worship God together...i hope that it´s in every language and that we all understand each language! The time of worshiping God corporately as a team was also an incredible way God used to unite us so much so that a short ten days later, when the team had to leave, it was very difficult because we had been through so much and had grown so much as a team, for them to leave was a really big loss. The team left Sunday night and we were so gratefully surprised that after church on Sunday morning, we came home to a surprise going away party that our family and friends threw for us. They made an amazing meal and even put together a really touching video for us with pictures and music. After we ate we had a blast playing music and dancing with our friends. It was hilarious because we taught some of our Peruvian friends a few line dances, they actually really loved it!
Yesterday was the first day without the rest of our team and it was our day of rest. It was probably one of the funnest days i have had here. We spent the whole day with our family which was really special! We went to the beach in the morning to see the ocean and to do some sight seeing of a museum they have by the marina. After that we got to go on this little tiny motor boat around the bay area. That was special for me becuase i love the ocean so much and it is so relaxing for me to be on the water. It was a bit cold but thankfully it wasn´t raining or anything. After the boat ride, we went out to a really yummy seafood restaurant and had some authentic Peruvian seafood called Civiche. It was delicious! After enjoying the food and constant laughter, we made our way to the Indian Market where they have all the tourist things to buy. We had a great time walking, and chatting, and even bardering in the market. We were on our way home when our Peruvian dad (who is actually my age) mentioned to us that we should take this bus tour up to this lit up cross they have that over looks all of Lima. I had no idea what we were getting into but i´m so glad we did it. The bus ride up the windy road (i have no idea how much elevation we climbed but it seemed like a lot) was a little unerving but definitely a worth while experience. Unfortunately, it was pretty foggy so we couldn´t see as clearly as we would have been able to if it was summer here. It was definitely a great way to end a really great day!
I leave for Cusco tomorrow! I cannot believe how rapidly my time is coming to an end here. We pick up a few friends that are coming from the States at the airport late tonight and leave tomorrow morning. I am beyond excited! I have heard nothing but amazing things about Cusco and Macchu Picchu. Please keep us in your prayers for safefy and wisdom as we travel to an unknown area. I will be sure to send an update once i return.
I would love to write more but do need to go for now. But before i go, i wanted to mention that if you guys want to see pictures, you can go to my friend Fabian´s blog. He has posted pictures from the beggining of the trip, i just have not had time to do it here but please feel free to check his out. The address is fabianclark.blogspot.com.
In Him,
Shayla
We were so thankful to have the team here, especially during the Vacation Bible School. It was so amazing because they were able to bring down a guitar which facilitated a lot of deep times of worship in song not only between us a team but with our Peruvian friends and family as well. We spent a lot of nights downstairs sitting around singing praises to God in English and in Spanish and I would have to say those were some of the sweetest times of this trip for me. Remembering that one day all nations will worship God together...i hope that it´s in every language and that we all understand each language! The time of worshiping God corporately as a team was also an incredible way God used to unite us so much so that a short ten days later, when the team had to leave, it was very difficult because we had been through so much and had grown so much as a team, for them to leave was a really big loss. The team left Sunday night and we were so gratefully surprised that after church on Sunday morning, we came home to a surprise going away party that our family and friends threw for us. They made an amazing meal and even put together a really touching video for us with pictures and music. After we ate we had a blast playing music and dancing with our friends. It was hilarious because we taught some of our Peruvian friends a few line dances, they actually really loved it!
Yesterday was the first day without the rest of our team and it was our day of rest. It was probably one of the funnest days i have had here. We spent the whole day with our family which was really special! We went to the beach in the morning to see the ocean and to do some sight seeing of a museum they have by the marina. After that we got to go on this little tiny motor boat around the bay area. That was special for me becuase i love the ocean so much and it is so relaxing for me to be on the water. It was a bit cold but thankfully it wasn´t raining or anything. After the boat ride, we went out to a really yummy seafood restaurant and had some authentic Peruvian seafood called Civiche. It was delicious! After enjoying the food and constant laughter, we made our way to the Indian Market where they have all the tourist things to buy. We had a great time walking, and chatting, and even bardering in the market. We were on our way home when our Peruvian dad (who is actually my age) mentioned to us that we should take this bus tour up to this lit up cross they have that over looks all of Lima. I had no idea what we were getting into but i´m so glad we did it. The bus ride up the windy road (i have no idea how much elevation we climbed but it seemed like a lot) was a little unerving but definitely a worth while experience. Unfortunately, it was pretty foggy so we couldn´t see as clearly as we would have been able to if it was summer here. It was definitely a great way to end a really great day!
I leave for Cusco tomorrow! I cannot believe how rapidly my time is coming to an end here. We pick up a few friends that are coming from the States at the airport late tonight and leave tomorrow morning. I am beyond excited! I have heard nothing but amazing things about Cusco and Macchu Picchu. Please keep us in your prayers for safefy and wisdom as we travel to an unknown area. I will be sure to send an update once i return.
I would love to write more but do need to go for now. But before i go, i wanted to mention that if you guys want to see pictures, you can go to my friend Fabian´s blog. He has posted pictures from the beggining of the trip, i just have not had time to do it here but please feel free to check his out. The address is fabianclark.blogspot.com.
In Him,
Shayla
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