Back now for 2 weeks...

And now it's the reflective part, putting all the pictures together, wondering how I'm going to fit them all on one CD I promised to send the other volunteers.  Oh yeah, I'm also trying to find a job or open a business as well.  So how much of my day do I devote to the trip aftermath?  And how much time do I spend figuring out my next move?  I discovered I need a routine.  Of course when I do have a routine, I try to deviate from it as much as possible.  But at least I have one.  For now, it's waking up later (7:30!) and trying not to turn on the TV or the computer.  But to find a job, I really need the computer! and then as a break from my computer searching, I can reach over to the remote and turn the TV on!  And so it goes...

Oh yeah, this blog was supposed to be about Peru.  One thing I learned being there is I enjoyed writing this, so now I would invite you to read my other blog (brand new!) - http://thingsivelearnedweekly.blogspot.com/ as I really can't ramble on in a blog called Mike in Peru!

So it's been fun writing this, but as the trip is over, so is this blog.  In closing, I found Peru to be a country I would like to return to, providing I be proficient in Spanish.  I will most likely travel with Cross Cultural Solutions again and if you have a chance to have a Pisco Sour or see a Peruvian Jazz Band, DO IT!  As for eating guinea pig, you'll have to make that choice yourself.
Cheers, Mike

Last Day at Los Martincitos - Saying goodbye and Picture Taking

Hilary & Mike's last day

Mike & Theresa

Mike & Zoila

Mike & Oscar

Mike & Abuelita
Mike & Delia
Mike & Phillip
Mike & Louisa
Mike & Beverly
Hilary & Anna Louisa
Mike & Anna Louisa
Mike & an Abuelita
Mike & an Abuelita

Many of the abuelos were very friendly and wanted to have their picture taken. However some had truly created a bond with us and gave us nice hugs goodbye.

Thursday the sequel- means I'm back in Lima

Hola!  So much to say, so little time!  Will post more when I return home this weekend.  Will post some pictures on Facebook, but here's the video (as requested!) of my llama encounter. 

Tuesday means it´s the second day in Aguas Calientes

Hola! So it´s been two days of nothing but climbing stairs here! The stairmaster sales would not do well here. It´s been great though as I´m really learning how to breathe properly. Being at 11,000 feet will do that to you! I sit in an internet cafe in Aguas Calientas otherwise known as the town closest to Machu Picchu. First- Machu Picchu was yesterday. It truly is an amazing place. While we climbed and walked the Inca Trail in the morning with a guide, which led to the most widely photographed place (in the city of MP), the afternoon was where it really became a place of beauty. Walking at my own pace, looking for the photo opps that I didn´t get to take in the morning (as I was concentrating on breathing), I discovered a few different spots where you just sat and enjoyed the beauty of the place. I love the Andes! While I was resting in one spot, one of the llamas (who make MP home), just stopped and stared at me while I stared at him/her. Then I realized he was going to the bathroom! Of course I did get it on video and maybe will post. The interesting part of the place was really the historical aspect of the Inca´s and the surprise being, I enjoyed hearing about them and the history of Machu Picchu. Many, many photos taken and will post eventually either here or Facebook. Second- was Monday spent observing and more stair climbing of the Sacred Valley and the Pisac market. It was an amazing place as well with gorgeous views. I can see why this is one of the more popular (and touristy) places. Met some interesting people while here as well. Yesterday it was the producer of the Closing Bell show on CNBC and his wife and also a woman from Brazil who I sat next to on the train on the way to MP and then again at lunchtime.

I joke about the stairs, but there´s stairs everywhere! To go from one part of town here to another, you can walk quite a bit- down one street and up another or simply take about 45 stairs (steep ones though). Other places are very stairy as well (New word I just made up!)

Favorite moments so far (in the last few days)- the llama situation, sitting in a cafe having a cappucino while watching the locals and tourists go about their day, climbing that last set of stairs at MP to get to that special spot, playing peekaboo with a child here, wanting to take a picture but not wanting to miss the moment, and hearing and recognizing the song from the group Nazareth and the pan flute version of ¨Love Hurts¨ and seeing another guy on the train break into a smile as he recognizes it as well.

Most likely will post tomorrow, but definitely on Thursday as well as pics. Until then, Cheers! Mike

Sunday was not a day of rest!

Hola! So now it´s on to the tourist part of the trip and so I write this in my hotel- the Hotel Del Prado in Cusco. It´s been a busy couple of days. First, the wrapup at CCS and the last night out. During the day on Friday it was tough saying goodbye to a lot of the abuelos, and it was only fitting I had kitchen duty for the good portion of the time that day! But when they said goodbye and sang their goodbye song, I was a little misty. Then came the Mass photo taking and kisses and hugs goodbye. It was quite a send-off! We had dinner the night before at Huaca Pillanca (or something like that!) in Miraflores. My opportunity to have cuy and so I had to take it! (Sorry Leanne!) It was lot of fun and we stayed out a little too late. So saying goodbye to Los Martincitos and being pretty tired (and a little hungover) made for an interesting day. Then we came back to the house and had lunch and then Friday Feedback meeting with no time for a nap! The feedback meeting I think is a great idea and was worth putting off sleep for a few minutes. There was 3 of us leaving, myself, Stefani and Hilary and we all gave goodbye speeches. I used the David Letterman method and gave the top 10 things I learned at CCS Lima. (I´ll post them later). We did go out that last night (Friday) to the Jazz Club again, this time listening to Salsa music and they even had salsa dancing. Of course there was little room on the floor to go all out (Thank God!), so the dancing I did was pretty much moving my feet in a 2 foot circle! I am the guy with no rhythm! But it was a good time had by all. And only 3 pisco sours this time!

Saturday morning came and I was off to Cusco. I was up before others and so had to tiptoe around and pack quietly! Mario who is one of the drivers for CCS Lima gave me a ride in his car and got to the airport in plenty of time. Short flight to Cusco and actually saw the sun! For Lima, the last few days was just cloudy all day with no sun. So Cusco being up a few feet in altitude affects all visitors. I had prepared a little and took Advil that morning and again when I got here, and had some Coca tea that´s supposed to help as well. So I didn´t get sick, but I could feel something going on in my stomach. Walked around the streets of Cusco after checking into the hotel and watched a little of the parade that was going on. Street performers as well as a few floats. They were celebrating the tourist, so all the tourism workers were out there either performing or on a float or something. Pretty neat. I took a few pictures, and will try to post them sometime. I don´t see a port to plug into (for pictures), but either I´ll ask or wait till Thursday, when I´m back in Lima. Today it was all about visiting the Sacred Valley and some ruins that has a long name and I don´t have the correct spelling! A really good day and weather is wonderful. Many kids asking for soles (money) or selling penny candy or small items for one soles. It´s hard to say no, but when you give they start following you and really start with the wining! It´s Machu Picchu tomorrow and Tuesday and am back in Cusco on Wednesday. Will see if I can post from the hotel in Machu Picchu, but who knows. Until then, Cheers and Hasta Luego! Mike

Thursday means the weekend starts!

Hola!  Well the Spanish is getting a little better.  I gave someone directions in the combination English/Spanish and French (that just pops in my head at the inopportune times) I have, but he didn't give me weird looks so I look at that as positive!  It's been a couple of down days and by down I mean depressing!  One- I'm leaving here in a couple days and beginning the "touristy" part of the vacation.  Not really a downer, but leaving here will be difficult.  The people I've met and the job we've done will remain with me.  The 2nd downer is the education we've learned in the last couple of days on the "Shining Path" and "MRTA" and their involvement in the history of Peru.  We saw a photograph and video exhibit in the National Museum here explaining what it was all about and then heard a talk of the history of Villa El Salvador which includes a good part involving the Shining Path.  Not good times for Peru.  Then as a 3rd downer, we saw the cemetery of Villa El Salvador today and it's nothing like a cemetery I've ever seen before.  (Pictures on my Facebook Page) On the positive side, we saw the Main Market today and wish I could have taken video of it, totally unreal! (Sister Jacci advised strongly against it for fear of theft). There were whole hanging chickens followed by sides of beef, some tripe and then the fish area.  Then moving right along there were men and women on sewing machines fixing peoples clothes on-the-spot!  A wild place.  My last day at Los Martincitos is tomorrow, but said goodbye to Sister Jacci today as she's leaving early tomorrow morning for a conference with the UN in Mexico City.  Going out to eat this evening- perhaps tonight's the night for cuy!  This is probably the last blog till I get to Cusco.  Until next time, Salud!

Los Martincitos can dance!

Hola!  It's Monday and time to post a video.  It's the Abuelos dancing for the Celebration of the Senior Citizen.  Enjoy.