My poor body. For the past five days, it had held me steady and strong throughout the Salkantay Trek, with barely a complaint about the drastic changes in altitude and temperature, the lack of sleep, or the many kilometres of climbs and descents. I had been so proud of my limbs, my muscles. I knew … Continue reading Sacsayhuamán & Qorikancha: obligatory visits in Cusco (even with a cold)
When news of the invaders reached the inhabitants of the citadel today called Machu Picchu, they fled. They would not allow the Spanish to reach that sacred place; abandonment seemed like the better option. With no prey to hunt, the town would remain hidden, undetected. Or at least, that’s what we hypothesise. There is so … Continue reading If These Stones Could Talk: standing Inside Machu Picchu
I couldn’t believe my own body. On the third day of the trek I woke up feeling warm and cosy. It took me a few seconds to remember where I was… and when the memories of the day before hit me, I feared the moment I would have to make my legs work. The pain … Continue reading Third day in the Salkantay Trek: roasting coffee & soaking in hot springs
The tip of my nose was icy. It had been the only part of my body uncovered during the night. I had put the clothes for the next day inside my sleeping bag, knowing that these would be freezing cold in the morning. When I said good morning to my roommate, a cloud of steam … Continue reading The Salkantay Pass: beyond the Mountain
We spend years, even a lifetime, thinking we know ourselves: our limits, our strengths. Unknowingly, those limits are often self-imposed - beliefs we accepted as facts. The biggest belief I had about myself was that I was physically weak and inept. Physical stuff was just not for me. I saw myself as a bookworm, not … Continue reading Tik, Tak, Tik, Tak… the first steps on the Salkantay Trek
