Machu Picchu.

At 4:30am the alarm on my cellphone went off as I laid there staring at it. I hadn’t slept at all. I was just waiting with restless anticipation. The girls and I got dressed quick and met Juan Carlos in the lobby to set out into the darkness. It was day 4 of our trip and this was the final push to Machu Picchu.

The welcome sign at the trailhead to Machu Picchu (5am)

My adrenaline rushed as we passed a handful of other groups leading up to the trailhead from Aguas Calientes. Within 15 minutes into the hike I found myself alone, flying up the mountain, like I was 13 again, running down the stairs on Christmas morning. Only this time, the stairs were steep, wet, rocks that led straight up and there was over a thousand of them.

The dark hike up to Machu Picchu

Sweaty, tired and excited, I reached the main gate just before 5:40am. The doors opened at 6, so I waited impatiently as other hikers trickled in, followed by tour bus after tour bus.

One of the first ones waiting at the main entrance of Machu Picchu

The morning was cloudy and rainy, but it couldn’t hide the incredible feeling I got when I saw that big beautiful bastard for the first time. It was quiet, mysterious, and felt so weird to actually be standing there.

Love at first sight. Walking up to Machu Picchu for the first time.

My First Glimpse of Machu Picchu: 6:14am

After about an hour tour of the grounds with Juan Carlos, he bid us farewell and I split with the girls to hike up Huayna Picchu (or Waynapicchu, is the big mountain you see behind Machu Picchu). The 35-minute hike was steep and intense, but the view down was breathtaking. You could see Machu Picchu and all it’s dramatic surroundings. I sat up there for about an hour watching the fog roll in and out, just trying absorbing and appreciating the moment.

The view of Machu Picchu from Huayna Picchu (Waynapicchu)

By the time I made my way back down Huayna Picchu, people had already started clearing out as the weather didn’t cooperate with their plans. I ducked into one of the many old doorways, watching and waiting as the rain washed everybody away.

The morning fog rolled into Machu Picchu and carried everyone else out.

Annika did not appreciate the morning fog at Machu Picchu

My hideout as the rain picked up at Machu Picchu

Hey look what I found!

By 2pm, the clouds cleared and so did the crowd. It was like the Picch was just testing the resilience of people… “Amazing is worth sticking it out for.” Life lesson?

For the next 2 hours I virtually had the whole place to myself. The sun was shining and it felt great on my cold, wet face. I walked around silently, soaking it all in…

The clouds lifting on the ruins of Machu Picchu

The ruins of Machu Picchu

The ruins of Machu Picchu

The ruins of Machu Picchu

Working to maintain this incredible site.

The ruins of Machu Picchu - An Inca doorway

The ruins of Machu Picchu - View of the terraces from the window

The ruins of Machu Picchu

Llamas hangout out on the grounds of Machu Picchu

Incan Llamas @ The Picch

A lone tree in the middle of Machu Picchu, oh the stories it could tell.

Before the time came to leave, I made my way to the main entrance to Machu Picchu from the Inca Trail known as the Sun Gate. It’s another 35-40 minute hike (mostly flat) to get there but it provides a different look at the Picchu that is equally as stunning as all the rest.

The trail to the Sun Gate from Machu Picchu

The Sun Gate - Main Inca Entrance to Machu Picchu

The view of Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate

I walked back from the Sun Gate and stole one last glimpse of Machu Picchu just as the afternoon sun illuminated the ruins beautifully.

My last photo at Machu Picchu. The money shot.

I was one of the first ones on the mountain in the morning and made sure I was one of the last ones to leave for the day. Feeling so fortune and overwhelmed by the whole experience I made my way down to Aguas Calientes and met up with the girls just in time to catch the train back to Cusco.

As the train left the station, we popped the bottle of champagne I had been carrying with me throughout the trek to celebrate our day and this unforgettable experience.

Celebrating after we devoured the Picch!

I wish I could have shared this experience with friends and family. I will definitely back again one day.

—-

Before visiting Machu Picchu, read “The Celestine Prophecy” by James Redfield.

—-

CHECK OUT PART 1:  The Trek to Machu Picchu

The Trek to Machu Picchu - Walking along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes with the Picch high above.

This was one of those adventures that I will keep with me for my entire life.

When I set out on my most recent trip to South America in October, I had no intentions of visiting Machu Picchu. My goal was to pass through Ecuador and Peru as quick as possible to get settled in Bolivia and start working with BiblioWorks.

The trip developed, one stop led to the next and before I knew it I found myself in Lima contemplating holiday plans and itching to do something big. As I caught my breath from the first 2 months on the road, I realized that Cusco would be a great place to spend Christmas and that Machu Picchu would be a great distraction from being away from home for Christmas.

I was hesitant at first because of all the hoopla around the famous monument. I worried it wouldn’t live up to the hype, I wondered if the rainy season would ruin the trip and I was sure I’d get annoyed with Asian tourists throwing up peace signs all over the place.

Despite my concerns, I wanted to experience Machu Picchu and I thank the Incan gods I did. It turned out to be one of the most incredible experiences of my life.

I was amazed by its size and condition, baffled by how it was all built, in awe of the scenery and absolutely captivated by the energy that flows through the ruins, jungle, and surrounding mountain range.

But before I made it to these incredible ruins, there was a beautiful adventure to be had just getting there. Here’s how the trek to the Picch went down…

CHOOSING THE TOUR

This is the part that sucks about planning for Machu Picchu. Cutting through all the Machu Picchu bull shit and tourist traps in Cusco to find a tour operator that won’t over promise and under deliver. I teamed up with a British friend (Lauren) I met in Arequipa and we set out to find the best possible tour by negotiating around town and reading reviews online. Turns out there are a million different tour sales offices in Cusco but only a few actual tour operators.

After 2 days of scavenging, we decided on the Inca Jungle Trek with Reserv. Cusco for $220 US. A 4-day, 3-night, guided tour that included 1 day of mountain biking, 3 days of hiking, zip-lining, hot springs, food and accommodations.

DAY 1: THE KICK START

Lauren, myself, and our Australian friend (Annika) arrived at the Reserv Cusco office at 7:30am where we met our guide (Juan Carlos) and the last member of our trekking team, Vicky, a professor from California. 4 days in the jungle with 3 women and a guide was a nice perk to the trip.

My Inca Jungle Trail Crew to Machu Picchu - Mountain Biking on Day 1

We got acquainted as our tour bus took us out of Cusco to Abra de Malaga, where we geared up to mountain bike. The ride started way up in the clouds and descended 65 km (40 miles) into the jungle. We road for about 4 hours, mostly downhill along the highway, and we hit a few small patches of “off-roading,” which was basically just unpaved streets. It wasn’t anything too extreme, but the view was so beautiful that I had to catch myself sometimes so I wouldn’t go over edge.

Up in the clouds, ready to bike!

The view from our bikes.

After the ride we jumped back in the bus and cruised for a bit more before we unloaded again for a quick hike to the village of Santa Maria, where we spent our first night.

DAY 2: HIKE LIKE AN INCA

Well rested and ready to roll, we hit the ground running on day 2 for what was planned to be longest hiking day of the trip. We traversed across mountains and cut through thick jungle as we hiked for 7 hours, including about an hour on the official Inca trail.

Leaving Santa Maria to hike part of the original Inca Trail on day 2

Hiking through the jungle on day 2

Fresh mangos along the trail!

Fresh cocaine along the trail? Coca plants cover the countryside.

Beautiful waterfalls line the jungle trail.

Hiking the original Inca trail

The highest point along the original Inca trail.

The view from the Inca trail

Basking in the sunshine and scenery.

A cute little tourist trap at one of our pit stops.

Pit stop roll play.

The girls and their trekking war paint (from left to right, Lauren, Vicky and Anikka)

Hiking along the river to the hot springs

Crossing the river the old fashion way. Just a basket and some rope.

Perfect end to a long day of hiking - the hot springs of Cocalmayo

We finished day 2 at the hot springs of Cocalmayo before making a final push to our second night’s stop in Santa Teresa.

DAY 3: ZIPPING INTO AGUAS CALIENTES

Sore and blistered, the girls sucked up their funky foot issues to keep up on day 3. After breakfast, a shuttle bus took us to the zip-lining headquarters where we received some safety instructions and got geared up.

Ready to Zip.

There were 6 different zip-lines stretching across a deep canyon that could be reached by a network of muddy trails, each one faster and higher than the last. The highlight was definitely the “Spiderman” move Juan Carlos taught us, which is where you swing yourself upside down and let your hand fly free as you zip over the river a few hundred feet below. It freaks ya out a little bit.

Vicky taking off (screaming all the way)

Don't look down Annika!

Juan Carlos teaching us how to Spiderman the zip-line.

No big deal, just hanging upside down as I fly through the air a few hundred feet off the ground.

We unhooked from the zip-line and continued on foot for another few hours, through the jungle and along the train tracks to the beautiful village of Aguas Calientes, which would be our base camp for Machu Picchu…

Hiking to Aguas Calientes as Machu Picchu looks on from above.

Lauren found a monster butterfly along the hike to Aguas Calientes

Arriving in Aguas Calientes, our Machu Picchu base camp.

SEE PART II: My Machu Picchu Experience

The one that got away. Lesson #16

69. Latin women love same-side sitting. I think it’s sexy if done with the right person and food selection (When eating ribs respect the space).

68. Chivalry isn’t dead gentlemen. Open doors, pull out chairs and offer your jacket.

67. Unlike American women, don’t expect Latin women to thank you for your chivalry, it’s expected.

66. You need to set a precedent early on… NO SURPRISE VISITS. They’re dangerous and will become more and more frequent. Not to mention they’re unexpected.

65. Never trust a woman who drives a mustang.

64. Never fight over a woman, but you can fight to defend a woman.

63. If you find a hot Ecuadorian woman you better hold on to her.

62. When in Argentina, drink a little Fernet and coke after dinner and it will help with digestion.

61. When in Colombia, order a bottle of Aguadiente vs individual drinks. It’s cheaper and you can share with neighboring tables.

60. One Night Stands: American girls won’t stay for breakfast. Latin girls won’t leave.

59. It’s cool to sit in a park and do absolutely nothing. Just enjoy the day and the company.

58. Women on Internet dating sites in Latin America carry the same baggage as those on dating sites in the United States (surveyed).

57. Pay by the hour hotel rooms (telos) aren’t just for drug dealers and prostitutes.

56. If she knows where the cheap telos are outside her neighborhood, pump the brakes and think about it.

55. In South America, discotecas are what we call Night Clubs and Night Clubs are what we call places where you pay women to have sex with you.

54. Strip clubs in Latin America aren’t like those in the States; lap dances are like a free sample. You pay to go, not for the show.

53. Hookers are people too (just a lot dirtier).

52. Gringo hunters are real and they can be very persuasive. Always keep the green card factor in mind. Sometimes you have to play defense.

51. Make an attempt to learn the local language. Men will respect you for it and women think it’s cute.

50. If you surround yourself with tourists, you’ll be treated like one.

49. Playing the “strong silent” type can be a great angle if you don’t know what anyone is saying.

48. Everyone in the world speaks body language. Not everyone understands body shots though.

47. Latin Punctuality Guide – Work: on time, Date: 10-20 minutes late, Party: 1-2 hours late.

46. Some Colombian girls get fake boobs for their Quinceañera (sweet 15). Argentine women get fake boobs through their health insurance. What a world.

45. Butt implants are like jelly fish. They’re awesome to look at but you don’t want to get too close.

44. Never underestimate the power of a good wingman.

43. Don’t let your date drink too much. When she starts throwing food or dancing with the doorman, it’s time to cut her off.

42. Don’t drink too much on a date. When you start spilling drinks or confessing your love, it’s time to cut yourself off.

41. Pace yourself at a nightclub. Take the first half hour to just watch the club dynamics before approaching anyone. Might save yourself some awkward boyfriend moments.

40. If you turn and admire a beautiful women walk by in Latin America you’re not a pervert, you’re a man.

39. If things are going really bad, shut up. If things are going really good, shut up.

38. If ever in doubt, stop and think… what would James Bond do right now?

37. Never come to a party empty handed.

36. If you hear a knock on the door late at night when you’re with company… don’t answer it unless you’re missing somebody.

35. Gift Guide Based on Relationship: 1-night: Chocolate, Short-term: Flowers, Long-term: Clothing/jewelry (the gifts match the life span).

34. Living at home means PDA is necessary. Learn to embrace it.

33. Don’t meet the parents unless you’re serious. It’s a huge step no matter what she tells you.

32. If a woman wakes up and starts to clean your house. Pretend you’re sleeping.

31. When you’re at a loss for words in the morning play this song: “Yo No Se Mañana” by Luis Enrique.

30. Victoria doesn’t share her secret with everyone in Latin America. Proceed with caution.

29. Automatically add 2 bases when utilizing Sangria in cold weather and Clerico in warm weather.

28. If you say you’re going to call and she accepts that, call. If you don’t plan on calling, let her take your number so it’s not on you.

27. Don’t spread yourself too thin. If Zack Morris couldn’t do it, neither can you.

26. Everything is negotiable.

25. Dance Floor Etiquette: Ask permission to dance rather than just grinding up behind them like in the States.

24. Dance Floor Etiquette: If already on the dance floor, approach women with equal dancing partners or they will turn you down (strength in numbers).

23. Unlike Americans, most Latinas eat their biggest meal for lunch, which is great because that save you money on dinner.

22. Expect to pay for everything with Latin women. However, the keepers will at least give you the reach.

21. Long distance relationships don’t work unless you have a definite end goal in sight.

20. Eye contact is amazingly affective. It can be used strategically from the boardroom to the bar (hold longer for added affect).

19. The Door Test rule applies everywhere.

18. Latin women tell you the truth about your lovemaking. Bring your A game.

17. Latin women have never seen “How to Loose a Guy in 10 Days”

16. If she talks about your relationship status on the second date it’s time to move on. You’re witnessing just the tip of the iceberg. No excuses.

15. If a women calls and hangs up it’s not because she’s pranking you. She doesn’t want to use the credit on her phone. You have to call back.

14. Everything is better when you’re relaxed.

13. Be honest about your intentions. You’ll be surprised at how positive the reaction can be. If not, It will come back to haunt you.

12. What you do and say are 2 totally different things. Try to keep them on the same page.

11. The key to a women’s heart is through her friends. Embrace her friends and you win the girl (don’t sleep with them).

10. Buckle up every time. I don’t care how good of a driver she is. Understand this has nothing to do with transportation.

9. Treat your courtship with a woman like cooking a steak. You can’t un-cook a burnt steak. Think about it.

8. 3 Words: Facebook Privacy Settings

7. Women love men who are caring, thoughtful, funny, smart, strong, loyal, honest, spontaneous, classy, rugged and good lovers… so just be that.

6.  If a women out of your league seems overly interested calm down and evaluate your chances of being robbed.

5. The fastest way you will learn a language is dating someone who doesn’t speak yours.

4. Be discreet when talking about your sex life. Like my mom said about this post, “remember your wife could read this someday.”

3. Always listen to your mother.

2. Dancing leads to sex. if it doesn’t, start taking dance lessons.

1. Never take yourself too seriously.

I haven't seen this many boobies since high school.

Making my way south on the Peruvian tourist circuit, I grabbed a bus from Lima to Pisco to check out Las Islas Ballestas (the Ballestas Islands) and the Paracas Reserve aka “The Poor Man’s Galapagos”.

I have to say, the bus ride from Lima to Pisco was the most beautiful part of this trip. I left Lima right before sunset and our bus route took us down along the Pacific coast for the majority of the trip. Massive rolling sand dunes sprinkled with tiny tin, brick and mud houses lined the highway as the sun painted the water an amazing shade of red and purple.

I spent the night in Pisco, a small, modest Peruvian town with a classic central plaza and underdeveloped roads and buildings, before shipping out on the tour the next morning.

I struggled getting up the next morning for the Islas Ballestas tour because I felt like I was just going through the motions to say I did it. Truth is I was and I didn’t like the feeling.

The harbor where the tour boats docked was humble and not overbearingly touristy. Tour operators filed in among fishing boats as a sea of blonde hair and blue-eyes over populated the darker background.

Our boat set off across the water until we came to the Islas Ballestas and joined a dozen or so other boats circling the islands.

The islands have over 200 species of marine life and birds, including Humboldt penguins, sea lions and Peruvian boobies (the birds, not the fun kind).  Also, I swore I saw a giant dorsal fin of a shark, whale or dolphin on the way back but I didn’t say anything. The tour guide said there weren’t any sharks but I didn’t believe her… that’s what they said in Cape Cod.

We made our way around the islands (never leaving the boat) admiring the massive amounts of birds and seals, while trying to avoid getting shit on by the heavy traffic above.

The only thing I didn’t like was that by the end of our tour more and more boats were arriving and you could see all the fuel they were extracting into the water. I asked our tour guide if these boats were good for the environment she told me that the Islas Ballestas had only been deemed a national reserve this past year so regulations still weren’t in place like they are in the real Galapagos. I hope they get that figured out.

Overall, for the money (less than $20) and time (about 2 hours) it was worth it. I haven’t been to the Galapagos yet but I hope it’s a lot more exciting than this. Based on the hype and price tag, I imagine it will be.

I decided to skip the second part of the tour through the Paracas Reserve and catch a bus straight to Ica for some Huacachina sandboarding.

Here’s a few more shots from the Ballestas Islands…

I guess some people weren't impressed with the tour.

SEE MORE PHOTOS

My First Stop in Bolivia: Cruising around Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca

After 3 months of traveling through Ecuador and Peru, I rushed through Lake Titicaca and La Paz to get settled here in Sucre, Bolivia. The last few months had been amazing, but I was tired of the hostel life and desperate to find my own place and get into some kind of routine.

Getting settled in Sucre, Bolivia

JANUARY RECAP

• After an amazing New Year’s Eve celebration in Cusco, I kicked-off 2012 by packing up and heading towards Bolivia on a night bus from Cusco to Puno, Peru.
• I arrived in Puno early the next morning where I spent the day exploring the floating islands of Uros on Lake Titicaca.
• That afternoon I jumped on another bus to the Bolivian border where things went a lot smoother than in Peru.
• I paid the $135 US Citizen entrance fee for a 90-day visa and that was it. Very uneventful, just the way I like my border crossings.
• I spent the night in Copacabana, Bolivia and toured the Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun) on Lake Titicaca the following day.
• After the Isla del Sol tour, I caught another bus for La Paz. As luck would have it, I met a nice Bolivian guy on the tour who accompanied me to La Paz and helped me get a ticket for Sucre once we made it to the bus terminal in La Paz.  I bought him a cheeseburger for helping me avoid tourist prices and I asked him a million questions about life in Bolivia.
• Drained from another night bus adventure I arrived in Sucre and checked into the Gringo Rincon Hostel for a quick nap before I set out apartment hunting.
• I looked at 7 different apartments in 2 days and had a new place arranged by the end of the first week.
• Once settled into my new pad I contacted BiblioWorks to start my latest mission.
• By the end of January I was in full swing volunteering at BiblioWorks, I started playing basketball 3 nights a week with locals, got to drive my first car around the city and experienced my first Bolivian kiss ; ). Great start towards townie status!

Settling into my new apartment in Sucre, Bolivia

CURRENT MISSION: Volunteer in Bolivia

Working with BiblioWorks and their literacy efforts have been the perfect fit thus far. We’re working together to fund the first ever book fair in April here in Sucre and we’ve been meeting with the local Rotary chapter with hopes of building 2 new libraries this year.

Starting in mid-February I’ll be spending 3 days a week at one of the libraries outside Sucre, working with students and parents on a variety of educational activities and programs.

GET INVOLVED: Help Me Support Literacy in Bolivia

Students reading in a BiblioWorks facilitated Library

What’s to come in February?

• Carnival is just around the corner and things are heating up here in Sucre! It is like one big water war on the streets. People drive by with water guns blasting pedestrians, families throw buckets of water down from their balconies and college kids gather in the main square every afternoon to soak the opposite sex with water balloons. I’m told “leche de tigre” (Tiger Milk) will be the alcoholic drink of choice, so we’ll see how that goes.
• BiblioWorks will be my main focus this month, raising money and awareness for their literacy initiatives as well as planning for the book fair and library curriculum.

Taking a break from the street dancing with my Bolivian crew at a pre-carnival party here in Sucre.

Favorite January Posts:

• Sambo’s Monkeymentary
• Colca Visuals: Deep Canyons sin Condors
• New Year’s Eve Celebration in Cusco, Peru
• Highlights from Chapter MMXI

Upcoming Posts:

• NEW VIDEO: Cooking Lessons in Lima, Peru
• Millionaire by 30
• 69 Lessons Learned from Latin Lovers
• The Journey to Machu Picchu
• NEW VIDEO: The Hare Krishna Lifestyle

SEE MORE STATUS UPDATES

On my way down to Arequipa and the Colca Canyon I made a quick 2-day stop in Ica, Peru to visit the beautiful oasis town of Huacachina, just outside the city.

When I told a friend I was going to Huacachina, she confirmed how beautiful it was and explained the legend behind the oasis.

As the story goes, the lagoon was created when a beautiful native princess was apprehended at her bath by a young hunter she fled, leaving the pool of water she had been bathing in to become the lagoon. The folds of her cloak, streaming behind her as she ran, became the surrounding sand dunes. And the woman herself is rumored to still live in the oasis as a mermaid.

While I didn’t see any mermaids, I did meet a nice local girl who convinced me to turn my 2-day pit stop into a 4-day rendezvous.

She showed me around the oasis and city of Ica for a few days and we had a lovely time. Unfortunately, I didn’t take any photos of that experience so you’ll have to settle for the second best thing in Huacachina, sandboarding in the dessert.

Enjoy Responsibly!

Can you spot us?

Dune buggy ride in Huacachina, Peru

The Huacachina Sandboarding Crew (2 Germans, 1 Kiwi and Myself)

Getting ready to hit the dunes.

So standing up didn't work very well so we went with plan B. Face down ass up.

Climbing back up for another attempt - Sandboarding in Huacachina Peru

Our dune buggy broke down in the middle of the dunes. Water cures everything.

Crushing the dunes while overlooking Huacachina with Ryan my Kiwi comrade

The Statue of the Mermaid that created Huacachina

Sunset in Huacachina, Peru

SEE MORE PHOTOS

]]> http://www.tourist2townie.com/adventure-fun/photoessay-sandboarding-the-huacachina-oasis/feed/ 4 http://www.tourist2townie.com/culture-food/help-me-support-literacy-in-bolivia/ http://www.tourist2townie.com/culture-food/help-me-support-literacy-in-bolivia/#comments Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:17:11 +0000 Gareth http://www.tourist2townie.com/?p=3720

For those of you who’ve followed this adventure for a while understand that everything I do has a purpose.

The “missions” I set out on are organized to learn about specific aspects of a country and it’s culture.

Tourist 2 Townie began in Argentina with learning Spanish and finding a local job and then moved to Colombia to trade my gringo shuffle in for some smooth salsa moves. From there I scratched the surface on cooking like a Peruvian chef and now I’m focused on Bolivia and my most ambitious adventure yet.

When I decided to take on my latest T2T mission, volunteer in Bolivia, I wanted to get involved with an organization that was truly instrumental within the community and be a part of something that I could have a lasting impact with… Enter BiblioWorks!

My Passion for Literacy

From water to rainforests, there are a million and one causes to get behind in this world, all of which are important and relatable. For me, it’s the opportunity for education that I’m passionate about. I think that every other cause in this world can be positively influenced through literacy and proper education.

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

This isn’t my first attempt at incorporating my passion for literacy into my work. In my previous life at the Textbook start-up, I tried to establish a foundation that gave used books and funds to local literacy organizations like Read to Succeed Buffalo, Family Literacy Centers of Utah and Reading is Fundamental of Southern California. Unfortunately, the program wasn’t as successful as I’d envisioned because short-term profitability trumped long-term impact. Definitely understandable for a growing business, but not something I was proud of. This time things will be different.

What BiblioWorks Does

BiblioWorks has been building libraries, supplying books and training librarians in some of the most disadvantaged communities in Bolivia since 2005. Focused on the communities within the Chuquisaca department (region around Sucre) BiblioWorks currently facilitates 8 libraries with the goal of 2 new libraries this year.

BiblioWorks Mission: BiblioWorks is founded in the simple principle that literacy and education are critical components for the creation and vitality of sustainable communities and cultures. We believe that where knowledge, literacy, and learning exist, people have the resources they need to solve social issues, maintain and strengthen their cultural identities, as well as to grow their community economically.

Our Goals Together

We have 3 very ambitious goals to accomplish while I’m here in Bolivia volunteering with BiblioWorks.

1. Fund 2 New Libraries – Our goal is to develop a relationship between the Rotary Club in Greece NY, (where my mother is a member) and the Rotary Club of Sucre Bolivia, to raise funds to build and supply 2 new libraries and train 2 librarians, hundreds of teachers and community members at the total cost of $10K each.
2. Book Fair in Sucre – Our goal is to fund, organize and execute a huge book fair in the center of Sucre on April 14^th 2012 to help promote literacy within the city and raise awareness about BiblioWorks and their current and future literacy efforts.
3. Assist within the libraries – This will be the most rewarding aspect of this volunteer project for me. I will spend a few days a week traveling to a local library to interact with the community members and help assist with educational activities and programs.

How You Can Get Involved

I’m raising money to help fund the first ever book fair in Sucre, Bolivia (goal #2) and I could use all the support I can get. We will need to purchase promotional material, educational prizes and general event supplies to make this book fair a reality and funds are in short supply. With that being said, any financial support you could give to this amazing cause would have a tremendous impact on improving literacy in one of the most deprived regions in South America.

HOW TO DONATE:

I have setup a Fundraiser Page through StayClassy.org where you can make a donation of your choice. $5, $10, $20, anything will make a huge difference.

Here’s how:

1. Click on this link: https://www.stayclassy.org/checkout/donation?fcid=182425 (or click on the “Donate Now” button on the BiblioWorks widget to the right of this page)
2. Select your donation amount $10, 20, $40 or other amount
3. Enter payment info (including Paypal)
4. Click “Send your Gift”

That’s it. It’s a one-page process that literally takes less than a minute.

You will receive a donation receipt via email shortly following your transaction. Also, it’s tax deductible ; ).

All donations via the StayClassy.org Fundraiser Page will be sent directly to the BiblioWorks account where all proceeds will help fund the Sucre Book Fair. No administrative costs or alternative project expenses will be taken from this account.

I will be continuously updating the project’s status on the T2T Facebook page as well as the BiblioWorks Facebook page, so check back regularly and tell your friends!

DONATE NOW

(Thank you all)

El Circuito Magico del Agua (The Magic Water Circuit) was one of the highlights from Lima, Peru. I took a date one evening to checkout all the water works and it made for a grand time. We watched the main “El Circuito Magico del Agua” show, messed around with shadow photos and even took a little kids train ride around the park.

If you’re traveling to Lima, Peru this is definitely a much see.

Enjoy the photos, have a great weekend.

Checkout the Pre-Inca Terraces on the ridge. Classic.

A 3:30am wake-up call for a 2-day guided tour doesn’t get me excited.

I pulled myself up into the crowded tour bus and stumbled my way to the back where I took a quick survey of the talent pool before passing out for the next 2 hours. Still not excited.

It was a long ride from downtown Arequipa to the Colca region, but around 7am we arrived at our first stop, “The Condor Observatory.” We spent an hour squinting at little black dots along the canyon ridge. No condors in sight. Even less excited now.

We piled back into the tourist mobile and drove another hour before we stopped again. This time my flaccid demeanor started to perk up. It was finally time to be set free!

Our Peruvian tour guide jumped out and signaled for the big Kiwi, the bearded Uruayan, the swiss girl and myself to file out. Turns out, all the other schleps were just along for the ride.  It would be just the 5 of us for the next 24 hours.

Stiff seats and boredom quickly turned into open air and adrenaline. We were off and hiking. An 8-hour trek down through the Colca Canyon was exactly what I needed to make up for the last few hours.

We spent the entire day hiking down into the canyon from the ridge above as our guide taught us about local plants, people and culture. It was exciting.

The long, tiring day came with a perfect ending as we arrived at an incredible oasis tucked deep inside the canyon’s walls.

Day 2 was a beautiful bitch.

At 5am we hiked 2 hours straight up the canyon to where our ride was waiting. The kiwi, an ex-military Aussie from another group and myself all subconsciously raced to the top, refusing to take breaks to let the other pass. It was an great workout with a sweet view.

I reached the top just before 9am, exhausted and proud.  That boring bus looked much more enticing this time around.

We finished the tour with breakfast in Cabanaconde and then another attempt at seeing some condors. 0 for 2.

Soak up some of these Colca Canyon Visuals (I left out the boring parts):

The beautiful view before diving into our trek through the Colca Canyon

The team starting the trek down Colca Canyon

This is Peru. A local women peeling cactus fruit in one of the villages along the trail.

Colca Canyon Corn from a local farm. I like corn.

A day in the life at the Colca Canyon

Lovely Digs at the oasis hidden deep in the Colca Canyon

The perfect end to a long trek.

Hey Look, A Flower! Lovely.

Day 2: The beautiful bitch of a hike back up the Colca Canyon (way too early).

Victory! Colca Canyon Conquered (don't mind the sweat).

While everyone went to the hot springs after the trek, I relaxed down at the local river.

Local Lifestyle: Stopping to by some treats while everyone else looked for Condors (again).

I didn't see any condors so I stopped to get a closer look at this guy and his eagle. I like eagles better anyway.

The Colca Canyon, northeast of Arequipa, is the 3rd most visited tourist destination in Peru and is said to be the “World’s Deepest Canyon.” The area around and through the Colca Canyon is beautifully rugged and wonderfully traditional. The local people maintain a very basic lifestyle and even continue to cultivate pre-inca stepped farming terraces.

Exciting, no?

SEE MORE PHOTOS

**Watch in HD**

On day 1 of volunteering at Paseo Los Monos Monkey Rescue Center in Puyo, Ecuador my camera was confiscated by Sambo, the alpha woolly monkey.

He told me I could have it back at the end of the week, but not before he put together this short video explaining his life at “the Monkey Ranch”.

If you notice any shaky footage you need to understand that monkeys don’t use tripods.

Read all about my experience at Paseo Los Monos Monkey Rescue Center.

Special thanks to all animals and volunteers who made this week one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

Also, thanks to Nick Greco for translating Sambo’s dialog.

The Monkey Behind the Magic - Sambo, Director/Alpha Woolly

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