Brian and Kim reached the end of the hike. Que bonito!
Chacararaju (6112 meters) rising above the lake.
Huascaran trying to peek out from the clouds.
Kim at the end of the trip.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Day Hike to 15,000 ft!
Yesterday we went on a day hike. The hike was in Huascaran National Park and the scenery was gorgeous. We had all types of weather: rain, sun, snow, wind. Our destination was a lake named Laguna 69, at 4600 meters (about 15,000 ft). So the adjustment to altitude was interesting. When we got there we were treated to the magnificent turquoise blue color of the lake. And on the way down the weather improved and we got a good view of a couple of the towering peaks of the Cordillera Blanca. I took a ton of pictures, so here are a few of the good ones.
Brian and Kim reached the end of the hike. Que bonito!
Brian and Kim reached the end of the hike. Que bonito! 
Friday, March 21, 2008
Rolling with the Punches
I have learned a lot over the last month or so, both in the States and Peru.
* Everyone should do a full clean-out of their fridge and freezer at least once a month.
* Never think that you can move out of a house on your own (little brothers with big muscles are amazing).
* A good cup of coffee is something that should be treasured.
* Life will test your flexibility.
* No matter how organized you are, plans change.
Brian and I are in Huaraz right now. In the Cordillera Blanca. It is absolutely breath taking.
So Plan A (as of last Monday, officially) was to say our goodbyes to the great folks in Trujillo, to spend a long weekend in Huaraz, and then to move to Cuzco. We were really excited for the upcoming challenges as directors of the Cuzco project. Wednesday came, however, and we were forced to create Plan B. The plug was pulled on our move to Cuzco and now... well... we´re figuring out how flexible we really are.
For now, Brian and I have truly been treating ourselves. This beautiful little town has delicious coffee, amazing chocolate cake, bagels with cream cheese, and all the outdoor adventures you could want. We only wish we had a bit more time here. Acclamizing to the altitude (we´re at 10,000 ft.) has been a very new experience for me. It´s like suffering from a hangover that you certainly do not deserve.
Wednesday was rediculously busy - trying to cancel our flight to Cuzco, teaching classes, saying goodbye to friends, checking out of Bruce Peru (to maybe go right back on Tuesday). Then that evening was our 8 hour overnight bus ride where we could have sworn the driver was trying to roast us for dinner it was so hot. After such a day, well, Huaraz is practically heaven on earth - even with the headache.
Our plans for tonight are to play a ton of ping-pong (yes, we found a ping-pong table!), and then get a good night sleep for a day trek we are taking tomorrow at 6 am. Life is pretty good.
Oh!
* Brian and I got locked inside our hostel for half and hour. It was us and a French couple on one side - unscrewing the door handle and wiggling a knife in between the door jam - and the Peruvians on the otherside - wiggling the key back and forth and offering futher solutions. Other than that, it´s been a great place to stay.
* Everyone should do a full clean-out of their fridge and freezer at least once a month.
* Never think that you can move out of a house on your own (little brothers with big muscles are amazing).
* A good cup of coffee is something that should be treasured.
* Life will test your flexibility.
* No matter how organized you are, plans change.
Brian and I are in Huaraz right now. In the Cordillera Blanca. It is absolutely breath taking.
So Plan A (as of last Monday, officially) was to say our goodbyes to the great folks in Trujillo, to spend a long weekend in Huaraz, and then to move to Cuzco. We were really excited for the upcoming challenges as directors of the Cuzco project. Wednesday came, however, and we were forced to create Plan B. The plug was pulled on our move to Cuzco and now... well... we´re figuring out how flexible we really are.
For now, Brian and I have truly been treating ourselves. This beautiful little town has delicious coffee, amazing chocolate cake, bagels with cream cheese, and all the outdoor adventures you could want. We only wish we had a bit more time here. Acclamizing to the altitude (we´re at 10,000 ft.) has been a very new experience for me. It´s like suffering from a hangover that you certainly do not deserve.
Wednesday was rediculously busy - trying to cancel our flight to Cuzco, teaching classes, saying goodbye to friends, checking out of Bruce Peru (to maybe go right back on Tuesday). Then that evening was our 8 hour overnight bus ride where we could have sworn the driver was trying to roast us for dinner it was so hot. After such a day, well, Huaraz is practically heaven on earth - even with the headache.
Our plans for tonight are to play a ton of ping-pong (yes, we found a ping-pong table!), and then get a good night sleep for a day trek we are taking tomorrow at 6 am. Life is pretty good.
Oh!
* Brian and I got locked inside our hostel for half and hour. It was us and a French couple on one side - unscrewing the door handle and wiggling a knife in between the door jam - and the Peruvians on the otherside - wiggling the key back and forth and offering futher solutions. Other than that, it´s been a great place to stay.
The view of Huaraz and the peak of Huascaran poking out of the clouds. We took this picture from the top of our hostal on the morning we arrived.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Fotos
People have been asking for more pictures, so here are a couple. Today we went to Otuzco for the day. It was a two-hour bus ride from Trujillo and the scenery was beautiful. Otuzco is in the mountains, at ~2600 meters, and was so much colder than Trujillo. It was a very pleasant break from the heat, and we enjoyed the lush, green scenery. We walked around the city for the day checking out the church, markets, and some cafe con leche. It started raining in the afternoon, and it felt a bit like the Pacific Northwest. The other pictures are shots that we have taken around Trujillo.
Kim and Brian with the city of Otuzco in the background.
Brian in Otuzco (and happy to be wearing a flannel!)
The cathedral in Trujillo
Plaza de Armas, Trujillo
Arena, our guard dog at our home in Trujillo Saturday, March 15, 2008
From Soup to Sand
Friday, March 7: 11:57 pm - a bug in Brian's stomach is hard at work.
Saturday, March 8: 4:02 am - Brian is in the bathroom. Sick.
Brian spends the next day in bed or in the bathroom. While he's doing his best to recover quickly, Kim and Danilo (our cook's son) run all over Trujillo buying Electrolight, hydration salts, and bottles of water. By the next day, Brian is out of bed and doing better. Health advice came flooding: drink lots of liquids, no fruit, definitely no ceviche, and you must eat soup. Sopa. "Soup with chicken, nothing else" is what everyone kept saying. Poor Brian stuck to his strict diet and followed the rules, eating soup for the next two days. On Sunday night, however, Brian and Kim were able to make it to the Beach, Huanchaco, to catch the sunset (see Ocaso post below).
Monday, March 10: 8:36 am - We start teaching classes in the barrios. Brian continues to eat soup. Brian and Kim are offered the director position for the Bruce Peru Cuzco site. A bug in Kim's stomach is hard at work.
Tuesday, March 12: 1:03 am - Kim is sick.
As Kim stumbled back and forth between her bedroom and the bathroom, with a dizzying fever and an active stomach, Brian took on the role of two people. He took on the role of sandwich maker (for the kids we teach); school teacher; professional liason between Bruce, our director and Kim; errand runner; nurse; english teacher; and planner.
By Wednesday Kim is a bit more vocal, but still not very mobile, and Brian continues to work through the kinks of whether or not we should make the move to Cuzco. It's an amazing opportunity in a beautiful place, but were not sure we wanted to leave the good community we've found here (the conclusion to this is still in the works). Kim eats soup.
By Thursday, Kim begins a new diet of fried chicken and rice and takes on a bit more of the load in the organization again, teaching an English class at night. Three more volunteers arrive to the center, which is a huge help. All are British and seem to be working their way right in.
Friday, Kim is eating like a champ. After a fun morning teaching the kids, Brian, Kim, and new friends Simone and Megan all head to Huanchaco. The ocean breezes and the calm atmosphere are the perfect way to close such a week. And we had enough energy to take our second surfing lesson on Saturday morning.
As for the bug, which started it all - well, he maybe came to us from Huanchaco (this very beach we went back to). Hopefully, all the soup taught him a lesson.
Saturday, March 8: 4:02 am - Brian is in the bathroom. Sick.
Brian spends the next day in bed or in the bathroom. While he's doing his best to recover quickly, Kim and Danilo (our cook's son) run all over Trujillo buying Electrolight, hydration salts, and bottles of water. By the next day, Brian is out of bed and doing better. Health advice came flooding: drink lots of liquids, no fruit, definitely no ceviche, and you must eat soup. Sopa. "Soup with chicken, nothing else" is what everyone kept saying. Poor Brian stuck to his strict diet and followed the rules, eating soup for the next two days. On Sunday night, however, Brian and Kim were able to make it to the Beach, Huanchaco, to catch the sunset (see Ocaso post below).
Monday, March 10: 8:36 am - We start teaching classes in the barrios. Brian continues to eat soup. Brian and Kim are offered the director position for the Bruce Peru Cuzco site. A bug in Kim's stomach is hard at work.
Tuesday, March 12: 1:03 am - Kim is sick.
As Kim stumbled back and forth between her bedroom and the bathroom, with a dizzying fever and an active stomach, Brian took on the role of two people. He took on the role of sandwich maker (for the kids we teach); school teacher; professional liason between Bruce, our director and Kim; errand runner; nurse; english teacher; and planner.
By Wednesday Kim is a bit more vocal, but still not very mobile, and Brian continues to work through the kinks of whether or not we should make the move to Cuzco. It's an amazing opportunity in a beautiful place, but were not sure we wanted to leave the good community we've found here (the conclusion to this is still in the works). Kim eats soup.
By Thursday, Kim begins a new diet of fried chicken and rice and takes on a bit more of the load in the organization again, teaching an English class at night. Three more volunteers arrive to the center, which is a huge help. All are British and seem to be working their way right in.
Friday, Kim is eating like a champ. After a fun morning teaching the kids, Brian, Kim, and new friends Simone and Megan all head to Huanchaco. The ocean breezes and the calm atmosphere are the perfect way to close such a week. And we had enough energy to take our second surfing lesson on Saturday morning.
As for the bug, which started it all - well, he maybe came to us from Huanchaco (this very beach we went back to). Hopefully, all the soup taught him a lesson.
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