Thursday, July 5, 2012

Posts from Buggy and Alex!


Yesterday we woke up in our hotel, Las Orquideas in Ollanta, around 5. Everyone ate some breakfast there (bread, yogurt, granola, juice, tea, and coffee) until it was time to leave and walk down the street to the train station. Inca Rail's slogan advertised a "mystic experience," which I can't really tell you much about because I was asleep for most of it. We did get to pass by the school in Pizca Cucho and see the mural which was pretty cool and Grace made sure to tell half the train that we were responsible for it. Once we got off the train, we took a 25 minute bus ride up to Machu Pichu. I'm pretty sure hiking was an option but no one was interested after the nine-hour one to Peruvian Shores. I'm sure plenty of people have said this, Machu Pichu was honestly one of the most incredible places I've ever been. We had a tour guide with a little green flag who Kennedy completely discredited after the tour was over, but we all liked his flag and the way he said "Did you know that you guys?" after every couple sentences. Also, couple of our lunches got confiscated on the way in, but everyone was cool and shared and we had a solid lunch in a spot out of view of the whistle-blowers. After we left, we took another train ride back and this time I got to drink some the the peach juice that I really hope is sold in the states because that stuff is seriously so good. Dinner was at a pizza place in the square where I've been told we ate seven, but I'm just going to say a ton. Morgan decided she wanted some cake afterward and led us sprinting to the nearest place. (To my father who constantly accuses me of exaggerating, she LITERALLY sprinted). Back at the hotel, we played sardines, kind of like Hide-and-Go-Seek except you hide with the people you find. Some of the hotel employees pitched in and made things even more fun. The night ended when we found Henry and Alex up on the roof, looked at the stars for a while, and then went to bed. All in all, it was a solid day.

-Buggy Stallings

Two days ago on Tuesday was our last day in Piscacucho. We started off by finishing up our service project at the school, which included painting the kitchen and bathrooms, cleaning up the plaster that was left over, and playing with the kids. Me and Henry then went and packed our bags back at our home stay and walked with Gil and Sarah back to the school for the Pachamanka with Maquise and Josue. The Pachamanka was sort of like a feast in which all of our families fixed food like guinea pig, beef, chicken, potatoes, and rice. The best part was when Beto, Adela's brother who we worked with at the school, brought Coke and Inca Cola. After the Pachamanka we said goodbye and took some pictures with our families and the kids. Then we went to the weaving community at Patakancha which is supported by Kennedy's NGO. We bought goods from them and then went back to Ollantaytambo. Once we got back we went to dinner and ate chicken or pasta which was pretty good. Then we all went back to the hotel we had stayed in the first day in Ollantaytambo and went to bed. - Alex