Slacker

As one of my best friends has reminded me, I've been a slacker lately!  Work has been very hectic, but I promise to post new stuff soon.  For now, here is a picture of a baby llama.

Lost in Mexico

So I got completely lost yesterday.  I was about to get off the bus in an area called "Mexico" and an elderly lady on the bus grabbed my arm and told me to stay on the bus.  She asked where I was going, and explained that "Mexico" was very dangerous (yes, I know, very ironic) and that I shouldn't get off there.  This lady (Lourdes was her name) took me by the arm, scolded the bus driver for not warning me about the neighbourhood, walked me all the way to my destination, and gave me the cookies pictured above.  She makes them herself and goes into town every day to sell them.  I was blown away by her kindness.  Thank you Señora Lourdes!

Machu Picchu



Amazing, breathtaking, magic.  I feel so fortunate to have shared this with Ryan.

In the belly button

Cusco, or Qosoq means belly button in Quechua (the language family spoken primarily by indigenous people in the Andes of South America).  What is now the city of Cusco was once the centre of the Inca Empire, hence the name.  Ryan and I spent a couple of days here on our way to Machu Picchu.  I loved Cusco, and plan on returning soon!

Easter Procession

There was an Easter procession in Chinchero the night we were there.  The men carry an effigy of Jesus and the women carry one of Mary.  They meet in the centre of the town where the floats are made to "bow" to eachother.  I was so glad to be there for this. 

Chinchero

Ryan and I spent a day in Chinchero - a very small town about 45 minutes from Cusco.  The altitude there is about 3,800 meters above sea level.  We stayed with a local family, and their eldest daughter, Miluska, gave us a tour of the town, and the local ruins.  The farming terraces you see above were constructed during the Inca period, and Miluska´s family still uses them to grow potatoes.  We were feeling a little light headed from the altitude, so she picked some "muña" for us to smell.  She rubbed it all over Ryan´s face and head, then stuck in under his tuque.  Her cousin Martin got some coca leaves for Ryan to chew on.  They have been used for thousands of years to relieve symptoms of altitude sickness.  

Lima Love

Ryan came to visit!  We hit all the tourist favourites in Lima first. We went up to "El Cerro San Cristobal" in the historic centre.  It´s a big hill with a giant cross on top where you can see the city and light special candles (red is for love and white is for healthy and family, but there are many other colours with different meanings).  We went to Barranco - a quaint part of town where you can cross "El Puente de los Suspiros" (the bridge of sighs) - you make three wishes and cross without taking a breath.  We also got to visit the old library in the Municipal Palace - the staircase shown is carved from one log and is absolutely stunning in person.  Ryan got a haircut at the small barbershop next to my house and I finally got a picture with the giant llama that I pass on the way to work every day.