We have finished our final homestays and spanish classes on this trip. In Ollantaytambo, Hollyn and I stayed with Abella and Alex along with their two daughters, Alexandra and Janice. We had spanish classes every day but would often do cultural activities like walk to the ruins or make guacamole during class time! We went on a few different hikes throughout the week. One was to a really pretty waterfall where we had lunch and had the option to go up to some ruins, which were apparently spectacular. Another hike was a bit shorter and it was to the salt flats. I have never seen anything like them! Salt has been growing on the mountain side and now when the water dries out, people extract the salt. It was the freshest salt I will ever taste in my life. In Ollantaytambo, there was a chocolate museum that we frequented quite a bit to get samples but later in the week, we did a chocolate making class. We each were able to make our own chocolates consisting of whatever toppings we wanted like salt, coffee beans, dried fruit and coconut. They were delicious and we all had a fun time making them. To close off our week in Ollantaytambo and to celebrate our two months of being together, we all met in the plaza and brought our favorite candy, cookie or snack in general. It was a good time just feasting on a bunch of food and talking (and Will and Paxton trying to climb the light post). After Ollantaytambo, we went to Patacancha which is a small weaving community about an hour and a half up the mountain from Ollantaytambo. It was super rural and super cold! Harvey and I stayed with Felicitas, who found a lot of enjoyment from watching us peel potatoes – something we have never really done before. We only had a few days there but we were able to hike, learn how to weave and get a few campfires in at night. We learned how to weave a few different kind of bracelets along with spinning alpaca fur into string which was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. It was a pretty special moment when I was able to teach a few girls how to weave bracelets the way I learned. Obviously this community’s weaving was much more advanced but it was fun to teach people a way that I knew! On our last day in Patacancha, we were lucky to eat Pachamanca, which is a meal cooked in the ground using heated stones. It consisted of multiple types of potatoes, chicken, beans and plantains. We then left and begun student directed travel in Lares!
From my personal blog: beyondhappyvalley.blogspot.com