In honor of our last days together, I (Madeleine) wanted to share some of Inti´s most quotable moments. You probably will not get most of them, but when we read them outloud at our group meetings, we cannot stop laughing. We have made so many amazing memories together. ¨I am a firm believer in creaming your own bagel.¨-Connor ¨One thing I learned is don´t give map to Yael.¨-Ann ¨I am… Read More
The trek to Machu Picchu began at 5:30 in the morning when we were picked up in busses to go to the start of our trek. We soon learned that not only would we NOT be carrying our large backpacks, something we had all panicked about the first time we carried them on our backs in the LA airport, but a portable kitchen, tents and food for the week would… Read More
As we sat down and stuffed our faces our first night back in Cusco none of us could believe we had already finished our five day Machhu Picchu trek.
Day one:
We were picked up at our hostel at five thirty am by our guides Rolando and Gerson (who soon became known as Rolo and Juicy G) and drove to our trail head. We hiked about three hours in the… Read More
“I’m a long time traveling here below, I’m a long time traveling away from home.”
I love starting pieces of writing with song lyrics, especially when they apply so very well. And this particular song came into my head during a very particular time in our travels: ten more days, and we head back to the home that we´ve been traveling away from for almost three months now. Not only… Read More
After a tough week of work in the Amazon we returned back to Puerto Maldonado a small river town. There we decided to splurge on a hostal that was slightly out of our budget but a neccesary luxury. The hostal Anaconda Lodge featured large lodge type rooms with private bathrooms, warm water, comfy beds, a gorgeous pool, the best thai food in Peru, and best of all monkeys. It was… Read More
After a week of jungle life, it was time to begin our student directed travel. We stayed in Puerto Maldonado for a couple of days in what became known amongst the group as `Monkey Palace`. Monkey Palace is the beautiful hostal we stayed in, filled with adorable (but sneaky) monkeys. After Puerto Maldonado, we took a 10 hour night bus to Cusco, and from there, a 2 hour bus ride… Read More
This week we headed up the Rio de Madre Dios to El Gato hostel in the Amazon Basin of Peru. We focused on the theme of sustainable living by working with the local nonprofit, Camino Verde, to build a fish pond so they can source their own protein. This organization strives to protect the biodiversity of the beautiful Tambopata river basin by planting endangered tree species. Enjoy the photo highlights… Read More
With very little clean clothes, a few extra bug bites (maybe a few cat bites as well), and slightly clay-stained orange hands, we are finishing up our week here in the jungle. Looking back at our achievements, however, it was all extremely worthwhile. Our main project with Robin was constructing a pond. This pond will provide Robin and the people living with him with a sustainable protein-source instead of fishing… Read More
Papa Cusco brings hot legit fried eggs to you— that´s how you start a day!
Sexy Spanish teacher says Buenos Dias to you— that´s how you learn knowledge!!
Still warm Pan with leaking chocolate inside from panderia— that´s your afternoon snack!!!
Salsa, Market, Zoo, Cooking class at afternoon— that´s why you can´t stop smiling!!!!
Fantastic dinner with group in cozy hostal— that´s the chill time of your day!!!!!
Pillow talk… Read More
A few photos from the past week in Cusco.
La Catedral de Cusco The view of Ausangate peak covered in snow View of Cusco from the rooftop terrace at Mama Cusco hostel Cheridyn teaches the group how to make artisan chocolates. Salsa dance classes at the language school. Full moon over Cusco.… Read More
I now know why Cusco, Peru is such a tourist attraction. This place, also known as ¨the belly button of the world,¨ is truly wonderful. We arrived here on Sunday, after a 9 hour bus ride, exhausted, yet really excited to explore. The Hostel This week we stayed at a hostel named ¨Mama Cusco.¨ The name is self-explanatory. Papa and Mama Cusco run this cute, little hostel and… Read More
One week into Peru and the differences between Ecuador and Peru became more obvious. Some differences were due to the fact that we were in a major city that was more modern with diverse people, styles and culture. Every day five roommates and I would ride a bus from our hole in the wall house to the heart of the gorgeous city. It took a while to acquire enough street… Read More
“Como te llamas?!” Alejandra yelled up to my top bunk. My bunk was situated above Caleigh, also newly awakened by the sound of the little three-year-old´s high-pitched question. I looked up from my book to see her smiling up at us, and despite the early hour and the noise of 14 girs getting ready for school that had permeated the house since 5 AM, it was impossible to be mad… Read More
As we are finishing up our second week in Arequipa its interesting to see how our experiences in our first city in Peru has been to the rest of the trip in Ecuador. Coming into the city it was clear that the basic weather and terrain was much different. Arequipa is a high desert it is very dry and about 700′ feet above sea level. It is also the most… Read More
Hola! we just spent two weeks in the city of Arequipa, Peru. We spent our time volunteering at a girls home, as well as a week of intensive spanish classes. At the girls home we built a new bedroom so that the girls can have more space.
We wanted to share some of our halloween traditions with them, so we threw them a fall harvest festival party. We each created… Read More
On Sunday, October 19, the group said goodbye to Ecuador as we walked through the doors of the Mariscal Sucre Airport. We flew through Lima to Arequipa and were welcomed at the airport by Maria Huaman, who runs Llama Education (the organization that is organizing our Spanish classes and homestays for our two week stay in Arequipa). We were then driven to our various homestays. Connor and I are with… Read More
