Cont. from below.

However, in Peru in general, I have never felt unsafe, just dirty and a little curious about particular procedures. For example, our bus ride involved switching buses at 4:30 a.m. in a sketch, unnamed town. To add to the confusion, I was still sleepy-eyed, but the blur remains in my memory. Young children and babies were shuffling around. We ran off the bus, back on, back off, and seconds later, we were 80% sure we were on the correct bus headed to Puno. This one smelled significant grades worse, but I tried to sleep it off, I failed.

We arrived in Puno at 6 a.m. and crazed from another restless night. A few blocks from the bus station, we attracted some Peruvian hostel owners near the train tracks. Peruvians love to hustle. We should have known then that we were in the ghetto of Puno, but we followed the man in a daze. Without question he agreed to rent us a room for an hour of sleep and another pan (bread) and marmalade desayuno (breakfast.) Later we discovered when we returned from our island tour of Lago Titikaka that the place is known for its one hour rentals, but different reasons than ours. The giggly couple that rented a room after us signified this to us. As did the two couples following the first pair. Awesome.

It's all part of the Peru experience.

Cont.

Cont. from below.

I couldn't resist the hats and a few other crafts. So, I'll be buying another duffle in Argentina for my return because I'll have no other way to transport my swag back home. Peru is alive with colors--some of the most vivid yellows and pinks I've ever seen.

After the first market, we arrived at a llama, alpaca, vicuna farm, or in my opinion, tourist wool camp. Still, I enjoyed snapping fotos and feeding the extra eager fine wool machines. We finally visited our first ruin, the name of which I forgot, shortly after. I was in awe. It was so large and expansive. The perfectly formed rows of agriculture steps balanced nicely with the rich blue sky speckled with a few clouds--that was until the rain came, but in the moment, I didn't mind it at all. I think it created a nice overtone to the mystery and wonder of the Incan empire and its wake it left behind.

Hours later, after another ruin site, another market, lunch and trying, what I must point out, Alpaca meat, which really tastes and looks like a beef steak, the sun set and we loaded the train for Aguas Calientes via Peru Rail. If you had to name the worst touristy town in South America, Aguas Calientes would steal the bag without a contest, but it's a requirement to stay there the night before if you want to the catch the first bus ride up to Machu Picchu at 6 in the early a.m. I wanted to beat the rush, so we did with a 4:30 a.m. wake up call. Augh.

With mist surrounding the mountains on the ride up, I was sleepy, but electrified with anticipation for the wonder of Machu Picchu. Just as many say, this is a place of mystery that cannot be captured by camera, but rather experienced through its spiritual vibes. Whether an Incan prison or another village high in the mountains, the ruin is awe-inspiring and much larger than I imaged in my mind. Llamas roam the grassy the courtyards of yesteryear and cameras permanently affixed to people's faces outnumber public restrooms, which is zero, unfortunately I learned.

The highlight was the hike up Waynu Picchu, a steep and somewhat precarious climb up the neighboring mountain. At the top, you are rewarded with vistas of the site that put the expanse of its creation in a whole new perspective. One I hope I never forget, nor the feeling of tranquility I felt up on top.

After observing and walking around the ruins for six+ hours, I hiked down the dusty trail to Aguas Calientes for our train ride back to Cusco and onward to Puno, via a sketchy Peruvian night bus. Cont...

The Roundup.

Where to start?

I arrived to Peru in a blur. We left Santiago for Lima on a red-eye, just like the way we returned. I spent my first few hours in Peru in the Lima aiport--in purgatory hell, as I like to call. Really though, I just slept in Starbuck's, consumed some McDonald's ice cream, and even snagged a cheap, but crappy Peruvian massage.

From there, we caught another flight directly to Cusco, the gateway to Machu Picchu and the beginning of our epic journey. We arrived low on sleep, but hungry for adventure. After a nap and some cocoa tea in our quaint hostel, we wandered the steep, stone steps for info on the Sacred Valley and of course, the greatest Incan wonder of all, Machu Picchu. We haggled for hours, but finally arranged our business. Peruvians speak much slower than Chileans, thankfully, so negotiating a student group discount was much easier, although still never as cheap as we want it!

In the night we wandered upon a town parade. It was curious, indeed. We watched weird birds, children with lamps in the shape of stars, bumblebees and spongebob square pants(!), native instruments sounded and costumed women danced. I munched on food from the street, choosing Tamales and Potatoes slopped with an indescript sauce, I should have gotten the meat pairing, but I was a little cautious of its effects.

Day 2 brought us bright and early to the Sacred Valley. The land area encompassing many of the Incan's vast ruins, including Machu Picchu, however, the last is not included in the S.V. tour. That is reserved for an entire day of admiring.

The S.V. is beautiful, but touristy. Along our visit, we stopped at various markets to shop Indian crafts--including scarves made of alpaca wool, Incan trinkets, bags, blankets, murals, hats, hats, gloves, and more hats. Continued in the next post...

Te Amo Peru. (I love you, Peru)

SOOOOOOOO many pictures but I'll try to upload as many as blogger will let me.

10,000 + 2.

Joe and I ran Nike's Santiago 10k today. Registration closed before I had the chance to sign up, but I ran it anyway. I didn't get a t-shirt, as I wanted, but I did get a sweet medal and an overflowing armful of fruit.

I've run a handful of road races, but this one was special because the support of the crowd was so overwhelming. If someone started walking, you could bet that someone else would be cheering "Vamos" to get you going again.

The entertainment after was quite comical, a Michael Jackson imposer, green men, and a nike model dance party. A good way to start a Sunday. Now, homework, Peru planning, and resume critiquing. I'm going to need some coffee. (One more week until I get my french press!)

Dreams.

Everyday my roommate tries to convince me that I should delay my life. "Stay in Chile with me, please!" I always shake my head and tell her my newest plan, but, after long weekends spent in the constant natural beauty of Chile; it doesn't seem that absurd, really. My holiday weekend in Pucon is a perfect example of this, I've never felt such a natural high from Nature's beauty. It was an indescribable serenity and I mean that in the least corny way possible.

Oh, Pucon. Where do I begin?

In a rough explanation about the four days, we did canyoning, hot springs, mountain biking and hydrospeeding--imagine plastic boogie boards in class III+ rapids--an activity, I later discovered is illegal in the U.S. for its safety concerns--Lena experienced this first hand by suffering a swollen, black eye after plunging in the first rapid.

By the end of the bus ride home, I felt a change. Well, more of a self-reassuring. I felt relaxed and for the first time, really stress-free. I've always carried so much stress on my shoulders, generally worrying about things out of my control. But sitting in my seat, half-sleeping, I could still feel the smile on my face from the bliss of Pucon and the natural wonder of the world.

I'm always thinking about my next chapter. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that every week Ingrid gets a new message about my next scheme, but after Pucon, I feel more assured that there's path I'm supposed to take and it'll work itself out naturally--I just need to pause and enjoy this journey now. As a Chilean told me my first night in Santiago, "Today is today, tomorrow is tomorrow."

Just a few pictures for now.

Pucon Love.