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)
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
When in Cusco, there is barely a day when you get a lie in. Most tours start early as driving hours through the mountains can be long. On my second day, I was going to give my body some relief from the altitude with a tour of the Sacred Valley. The pick up was at … Continue reading Visiting the Sacred Valley and wondering about stones
Beautiful view of the Andes from Cusco In Portuguese, Peru means turkey (the bird), which in turn is peru in Portuguese. And Turkey, the country, is Turquia in Portuguese. I always found this a curious one. And before finally making it to Peru, after years of dreaming about getting there, I decided to investigate. Turkey, … Continue reading Peru: notes from the Beginning of a Journey to the Andes
The Winged Bone 