change of pace...

I appologize if this blog starts to sound more like a journal- but it is how I´m tracking my trip so bare with me. Wow, wow, wow. Yesterday was a day of adventure. Words cannot describe anything that I experienced or saw yesterday as we packed SO much into one day-but it was brilliant. It was the last day to explore a bit until i had to get down to business at Maximo Nivel. I started my TEFL course and will be taking Spanish classes in the evenings also. SO- lots to learn. I could write all day about yesterday alone-but here is my best attempt to give you an overview. I can´t post pics- but they would do a lot more justice to my day.

Alfonso picked me up yesterday morning after I had some mate de cocoa in my hostel and we went to Maximo to get assigned to a host family. Honestly I was a little nervous when they told me I´d be with a single mom.. as that was my situation in CR, but I got to the place and I couldn´t have it any better. My host mom is named Marina and she reminds me so much of my aunt Judy :). So sweet and likeable from the first moment. She has a cat that wanted me to hold it right away- so I felt at home pretty quick- as I´m used to having Mamba & Luna around. My room is great and she has two sons- 20 & 25 that live there too. I´m sure they´ll show me some good parts of cuzco. I was only there for about 20 mins before we hit the road and started off to who knows where- we left by 9:30 am and didn´t return until 8:30 last night. We went way outside of cuzco the heart of the land here. The land is unbelievable- I couldn´t stop taking pictures. I felt like I was in watching a movie. Alfonso told me we would start at 14,000 ft and go higher as the day progressed. We stopped in a village about an hour outside cuzco where they have a market that people walk to from all over for hours and hours with their stuff on their backs. I was the only gringo that I saw- and the peruvians were the ones you see in pictures.

As I said so much of this is impossible to explain without pictures- but we went to a temple there where the walls were painted with the oils of the vegetables- Alfonso gave me a tour right in the middle of a service- which felt wierd to me.. but you learn to go with it when you are with a local. We heard the people singing in their native tongue- which I don´t know how to spell but it is catchua... the other langugage of the people here. We tried some kind of food that was all herbs that they grew- the closest discription I have is spinach... mixed with other green veggies.

We continued on to a place that was a glimpse of what I´ll see in machu picchu- with the ruins and construction of the incas. I´ve learned more history in the past few days about Cuzco then I know in all my years of English History in the US (that may have something to do with my attendance in highschool-ops). It is utterly facinating... the gods the Incas had and how they worshiped the sun.. how they built their land to harvet different kinds of crops in levels. So much to learn. That was amazing as well... as pictures will later describe.

We met alfonso´s wife for lunch at this buffet where the food was typical- and delicious. It was a cute restaurant with live music with flutes of all sorts- and all of it only cost for the three of us 15.00- for a first class feast.

The drive alone was incredible- but the little places we stopped at and the people of peru have been the biggest culture shock I´ve had in my travels. Yesterday alone! We stopped by a few soccer fields on the way and one time stopped to visit a friend of Alfonso´s who was the ref of a game so we watched. There was a girls game going on on a tiny field and some of the girls (or women) were wearing skirts playing soccer. That was an awesome sight! Go women´s soccer!!! It seriously amazed me how we would be in the middle of NOWHERE and you would see a beautiful soccer field with a fence around it (okay not AS beautiful as DSGPark Dean:)).... they were everywhere. I don´t even know where the people lived that played on some of these fields- but I loved it! Beauty at its finest is when you can see a soccer field surrounded by majestic land.

We also stopped on the side of the road to watch a cock fight- you can only imagine how well I handled that... it was pretty crazy. They put knives on the cocks- and the fight was not even the worst part. I was trying not to watch but kinda had to- REALLY trying to blend in as the only white person there... all the while maintain my cool. I´m a pacifist- so I really don´t understand the joy in watching a cock fight. BUT it was a great experience culturally. The worst fight was afterwards when they had to kill the cock that lost... it took about 10 of the men to try and break it´s neck as it was bleeding all over the place from the fight... ISH! They killed it and started walking off- one man carrying the winning cock and the other holding the losing cock by his legs when it started to try and fly... STILL. After a broken neck.... that my friends was an experience I didn´t expect when I signed up for this deal- but like I said, important to see.

We went to send a message to the village via a piece of paper that we will be coming to bring supplies soon. I guess the people will walk from far away to meet us... after our drive and horse-back trek. I´m pretty excited for that.

We stopped at one more market so Alfonso and his wife could buy some fruit and then on the way back we went to a look out view on our way back into cuzco and saw the white angel statue that looks over the whole city and all of the lights- pretty amazing view.

I got back- had dinner with my host mom and another student and then went to bed pretty quick.

Today I´m at Maximo- I had orientation this morning and classes and took my placement test and start Spanish classes tonight. That is my life in the past day in a nutshell...

Sorry to be so long... Hope all is well. Please be in touch :)

Familia...

Lima to Cuzco- I made it! It was a long day at the airport but I arrived and Alfonso, the guy that I'll be working with from sense the world (the nonprofit organization that Greg founded & I'll be working with) was waiting the whole day at the airport for me. He took me to my hostel and we had some mate de cocoa- which is like tea, but they told me it is not. They said it is to acclimate to the elevation... which I later found out how serious they were. I rested for an hour and then Alfonso picked me up to go get some lunch- the real peruvian deal! It was the first thing that I had to eat for awhile and it was some kind of fish?? Lots of seafood here! I also tried this drink that is famous here called "Chicha"- probably the worst thing that I've ever tasted in my life. Seriously.. but I tried to swallow it down (believe me this was a BIG glass of chicha) as they were so proud of it. I'm sure it'll come back up in my path again.... can't wait :(. I can try just about anything (and have!)- but that was NO BUENO.

Alfonso and I went to start getting all of the supplies we need to take to the villages... we were at the store buying LOTS of notebooks, pencils, pens, erasers, shampoo, soap, etc, etc. They told me we would be going part way by car and the rest of the way on horse back to deliver these things- Pretty excited for that! It was a little while into the evening yesterday that I started to get sick- I was feeling great and then within a few mins was blacked out sitting on the floor. Wow Lindy- here i am the only gringa around trying to blend in... falling on my face in the middle of the store...I was thinking to myself "way to blend in tourist" :). So yeah- that altitude thing... for real. It is the highest city in the world that is civilized. I learned that yesterday- directly.

I went back to my hostel & was a little lonely in a place I don't know at all- but it was good for me for sure! I took a walk to find a phone because my friends in Lima wanted me to let them know I made it- met a gentleman along the way that charged me 3 soles to make a call on his cell phone. Back the the hostel after dodging as many people as I could & hung out for awhile longer until Erin came to my hostel. I was pretty excited to see her... she is studying at the same school I'll be at. We walked up to the plaza and found a salsa bar and hung out for a little while before I walked back to my hostel.

Today I'm going to my host family which I'm really excited about! It will be good to have a home base here. Saying a little prayer that it is a good set-up... my host family in Costa Rica was a bit challenging (but fun none the less).

Alfonso and I will work some more today and who knows what else the day holds??? I'm excited to get busy and get started on my cuzco adventures!

I'll try and post some more pics from Lima- sometimes I can and sometimes I can't. Missing you all! Thanks for the e-mails and facebook notes- they seriously make my day.

Going to Cuzco... maybe

Uh Oh.

First big bump in the road- which isn't a huge bump. I got to the airport at 3:30 am to catch my flight to Cuzco and all went well until we boarded the plane and I fell asleep as soon as I sat in my seat. I woke up about an hour later and we were in the exact same place as we were before. We can't take off because of the weather in Cuzco so we are stuck in Lima. I actually tried to change my flight to stay in Lima for the weekend, but couldn't and now I'm here... but in the airport. We'll see... maybe it is meant for me to stay here?!?!

I can't even begin to describe how long it feels that I've been here. Not a few days but more like months. Dan got here and we've all been treking around Lima seeing new sights. I love the city as you can walk along the cliffs that over look the ocean for DAYS. Well at least a day which is what we did the other day. We met Dan around 11am and went for a walk down the beach and then back through the city (over looking the beach) and got back to the hotel at 5:30 pm. It was awesome!

We have spent all of our time with Willy's family- I met his sisters yesterday- once again, that kid has such an amazing family. His sister, mom and cousin took us around all day yesterday- we got in the ocean (which is not beautiful by any means when you are from Oregon) and it is some DIRTY water. I figure you only live once and all the peruvians were doing it... but I don't even want to know what I was swimming in?!?!

We have had a TON of civiche (spelling?) which is A-Mazing... but if I don't get sick this trip it will be a small miracle.

we just got called to board again- we'll see how it goes.. bye for now.

dancin

Last night my dreams came true. If any of yáll see a handsome peruvian that is known to drop in and out of Denver..that is my friend Willy and you can give him a big hug from me because hanging with his family has been awesome. Last night we went to get a drink at a restaurant that looks over the ocean and sat on the patio laughing and laughing and laughing. It has been a long time since I laughed as much as I did yesterday. It was beautiful. Afterwards we went to the discotecas in Lima- we spent most of our time at a cuban place with live music. I danced the whole time with Willy´s cousin Efrain and I could NOT get the smile off my face. It feels so good to be here. I feel so alive here and just being surrounded in Spanish is music to my ears.

My heart is content and I had so many afterthoughts of this trip being the right thing, but I now know that this is where I belong. There are some times in life where you have to take the consequences and follow your heart. My heart is here today for sure. I am breathing lighter then I have in a long time. I will be in touch as much as possible... we are waiting for Dan right now and then I will have two gringo boys to watch after... or to watch over me, either way.

Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers and e mails... they make my day.

Lima... we are loving this place. We got in at midnight last night and my dear friend Willy hooked me up with a ride from his cousin who was waiting at the airport ready to get Brenton and I safely to the hotel. It is hard to believe we have only been here 1 day... lots to see. The flights down were perfect. We got bumped up to first class the whole way and were wined and dined. Brenton gave me crap for sleeping 6 hours out of a 6 and a half hour flight... I needed it!!!

Today we woke up and explored around Barranco where we are staying and went to the beach and took a long walk on the beach. Lots to see. We met up with Willy´s mom and had lunch at a wonderful place across from the soccer stadium where alanzia plays... amazing food and great company. we laughed a lot and brenton was hitting on Willy´s mom...(sorry willy). Everything has been GREAT.

We are exhausted after lots of running around and FULL tummys from sea food... going to take a nap and go out with Willy´s cousin and sister tonight to dance dance dance the night away. Things could not have gone better thus far....

Miss ya all....

Destination- Peru

The time has come! I'm sitting in the airport in Atlanta with a 6 hour layover so at this point I'm committed- it's the real deal. I wasn't sure until this moment that this trip was going to actually happen- but my next destination is Lima. Done deal. This trips arrival has been bitter sweet- for a variety of reasons but as I struggled to be excited this morning I woke up about 1/2hour into our flight and glanced to my right and saw the sun rise above the clouds and to my left was my good friend & brotha- Brenton tagging along for the adventure. It was in that moment that I remembered that I am NOT the one in control. My apprehensions were quickly silenced by the most amazing view I've seen in a long time... and I realized that this trip is bigger then my fears.

SO for all of you who were wondering along with me if this was going to be for real here are the details..

*I've recruited two of my best amigos to start the trip off with- Brenton is treking with me & we are meeting Dan-Dan in Lima. I'm going to be in Lima exploring until Saturday.

*This Saturday I'll be flying to Cuzco to meet up with a touch point from "Sense the World"- which is a friend's non-profit organization and delivering materials and working with a gentleman named Alfonso. This is open-ended to what I'll be doing- and I'm excited for that adventure. I'll be visiting villages to deliver the materials... this journey is open-ended. I'll be taken care of by Alfonso & his wife while working with the organization which I feel really confident about as I've communicated via phone and e-mail with him several times. Good guy- he has to be he is a cop in Cuzco :)

*I'm going to try and see Machu Picchu & dance sometime in the down time or weekends.

*I start living with my host family shortly after getting to Cuzco- and start class & down to business. From that point on LEARN, LEARN, LEARN. I'll be teaching for the majority of the time I'm there.. I can hear it now.. Senorita Wimmer. I can't believe I'll be teaching. Scary!

That is the schedule in a nut-shell. I'll be flying to Lima the day after class ends on the 14th of Feb. and trying to get a flight back to Denver as quickly as possible after that. I'll be camping out at the airport until they give me the go ahead to get back to the states.

I'm excited for the adventure ahead- but also looking forward to getting back (which is an awesome feeling)- means that I have a lot to come back to. I'm a blessed little girl- every day of my life and I'm thankful for everything I have. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers!

As I learned in Costa Rica "pura vida"- I'm ready to take this adventure on and learn all that I can from the journey. The more I'm stretched the stronger I'll be!!!!

I'll be in touch,
Love,
Lindy