Hey everyone! It’s Chloe writing about an amazing weekend in and around Cusco, Peru.
This past Saturday, our “fun and inspiration” of the week (good ol’ Kelsey King) organized an awesome repelling day trip about an hour outside of Cusco. We set off at about 8:30 with our guides (honestly, the only name I can remember is Kung Fu Panda – one of the guide’s nick names) and drove to Pisac with only a minor flat tire set-back. We parked in the yard of this badass, very worn house complete with an old, dozing woman on the porch. We lathered up on the sunscreen, grabbed our wetsuits, and headed a small ways up this mountain along a cascading river. Once we got to our resting point we looked around and were treated to views of brilliant green corn fields and mountains (one of which was bare save for one, lone tree and its shadow…. I wish I had had my camera to show all of you guys a picture because I thought it looked real sweet up there all by its lonesome). Behind us were waterfalls and Eucalyptus trees and wild, green grass. I wanted to spend hours exploring farther up into that mountain, but there was business to attend to: we pulled on our wetsuits, splash jackets, heltmets, shows, and harnesses and were ready for our first practice repel – a short and dry repel that gave me confidence in the gear that was to keep us alive.
And then it was time for the waterfalls (we conquered 12 in total). I like heights and I like climbing and usually don’t struggle too much with that sort of stuff, but let me tell you, that first waterfall was tough to get down! Freezing cold water (that made me lose my breath) is gushing down on you as you try and find footholds and get yourself down without slipping – it ain’t easy. But it is a ton o’ fun! Or it was for me… And once I got to the bottom of that first big guy I felt pretty beast to say the least. We had three more descents after that one, the last one being my personal fave. And after the second waterfall we were all given warm coffee or hot chocolate (much needed because it was fareaking fareezing during the wait times – wow, I think I might have lost feeling in my feet at one point…).
The whole experience was thrilling and tough at the same time. It definitely pushed some people’s limits, but I think that most all of us had a pretty amazing time overall. And after we completed the repelling part of the day we headed back to the van to dry off and get warm clothes on (I was so happy about that) and then were served a surprisingly delicious lunch of yummy chicken, fried ride, and vegetables. (The old woman on the porch was still asleep when we got back to the van.)
As we ate our late lunch I looked around at where we were, and damn – the light was so perfect, a golden kind of fall color with a breeze. The corn in the fields and the trees all around us ruffled in the wind, and the clouds danced around silhouetted trees at the mountains’ ridges. It was a nice moment for me.
We headed back to our houses and were then set free to do as we pleased for the evening. I went and walked around the lit up Plaza de Armas with my boyfriend Josh (who I was very very happy to see during this weekend!) and just soaked in Cusco….which–my family, pay attention–I am absolutely in love with and one of my new life dreams is to come back and live in this city for a year. (Family and friends – you’re totally welcome to come visit me, I think you all would like it too!)
Yesterday, Sunday, I spent the day with Josh eating at the same restaurant twice (Jack’s – they’ve got their American food down. It’s a total guilty pleasure taking a break from the Peruvian food…not that it’s bad, but sometimes a good huevos rancheros and chocolate chip banana pancake just hits the spot). And spent who knows how many hours lying in the grass in this shady plaza (not sketch – shady as in lots of drooping trees). We also went high up to one of the edges of Cusco and were treated to a complete view of Cusco (god I love this city!).
Personally, I had an amazing weekend. I think we all did. You just can’t seem to get down in this city. Or I can’t at least.
Hope everyone is doing well!
Chloe