Where are the pictures?

Well, my life is very busy and I havent had the time to post them just yet. They are sitting on a CD in Buttercup's room. I know that an unemployed person's life should be boring and unbusy...however, it is just the opposite. I will be starting 2 contract jobs this week, so maybe I can get it up and running before then....

I will continue to update the blog with my life events. I did not think that many people would read this site, but I was wrong. I know that my family appreciates knowing what I am doing at all times, so the blog will continue on ....

Cajamarca and the final days in Lima

After the trekking expedition was over we headed to the small of Cajamarca in the North Central part of Peru (close to the Brasilian Amazon border). This town is know for its natural hot springs --- nice. We spent a day at the spa and a chilling by the pool ... although, Ruben and Alissa did go horseback riding. Overall, it was just a relaxing time!

However, the ride to the airpot at 3AM, was the most exciting part of the trip. We squeezed 7 people into the Corolla. Then, we were stopped my the airport police and questioned. Ruben talked his way out if, meanwhile Alissa and are inthe front seat eatting the prior nite's chicken.

During this trip, we did meet a girl from the states that worked in the Embassy. She was the epitome of the "mean Americans travelling". At the airport, she just threw her paperwork in front of the attendant. Then proceeded to argue with her about why she needed her passport. she couldn't understand why the lady needed to see it. Obviously she wasn't living in the 21st century, or she was so arogant. I vote for the 2nd. Needless to say, she refused to give her passport, and the police came to rough her up.

After chilling at the springs, we returned to Lima. We had a party the nigthe before we left and Ruben's entire family came over to hang with us. They taught us salsa and meringue! We have it on video!

We lived like queens in Ruben's apartment! He had a miad that brought us breakfast in bed! Man, reality is going to be tough.

Ruben and I crossing on the pulley over the river. 

View from the truck on Day 3 going down the long, windy hill. 

Alissa and I giving out candy to the local kids. They always stopped and asked for carmelos because it was something that they could only get from foreigners. 

Day 3,4, 5 of Trek

Day 3 was even better than Day 2. We walked a few hours till we hit the end of the trail and had to take a local bus to the next campground. They packed people on the back of a truck and we headed downhill to Santa Teresa town. The ride was nothing but eventful. Basically, we descended down a very winding, switchback road with no railing. My Mom was holding on the the sides of the truck preparing for the truck to rollover down the hill. Then, she thought it was over and was hanging off of the back of the truck. Ruben thought that she was just joking, but the locals didn't and tried to get her back in the truck---this was occurring as it was driving down the hill.

We finally reached the bottom after 30 mins of descending. It was all fun and games after it was over. We reached Santa Teresa and camped for the evening.


This place was so loud and noisy that we could barely sleep.

Day 4 was pretty simple and not alot of trekking, however it did come with some events. We walked about 45 mins and then came to the river crossing in a cart and pulley contraption. It is hard to explain what this was, but it is clear to say that it was the only way to cross the river to get to the next town. The contraption was a rope with a pulley and a cart attached so that people could sit in and cross (please see the pic with Ruben). Needless to say, they loaded on as much as they could and then put a person in to boot. It was insane. Local travelling.

After the pulley/river crossing, we had to take another local bus the train that would take us to Macchu Picchu town (aka Aguas Calientes). Well, the bus was much like everything else, pack on as many people as possible, without regard to the humaness of it. Our ride was suppose to be for 45 mins, but Mom and decided to quit (ie. wanted off). The ride was too much for us. We could barely move and no one had any concern for eachother. I had arms and feet all over me, I barely made it out of the truck. Ruben was the only one who stayed, so

We made it to the town after about 30 mins of walking, this was also the first time that we got to see macchu picchu --- it was about 500 feet above us.

The drama for the day had ended and we got on the train to Aguas Calientes and were able to spend the nite in a hotel. It was heaven:)

Day 5 was the climax -- we woke at 5 am to go to Macchu Picchu. The buses ran every 15 mins., we took the 5.45am. It was great sight, we made it there at sunrise! It was hard to imagine that the city was built hundreds of years ago. It was very ingenious. Built to last, just like a Ford Escort:)

I wandered away from my group to take pics of the place -- National G is gonna call for these pics. Anyway, I decided to walk across the maing square of the city because it looked peaceful. In the midst of doing so, I was whistled at by a guard, I was not allowed to do this --- no wonder that there was no one on the courtyard.

After our tour of the "city" we climbed WaynaPicchu -- this is the summit overlooking the city.

That evening we took the train back to Cuzco, this was the day that the earthquake hit. We did not feel a thing.

Me and Mom nearing the end of the first day. 

Ruben nearing the end of the Day 1 trek.  

Day 2 of the trek...

After 1.5 hours of walking, we made it over the pass, success! We were going to make it through the trek. We celebrated at the top and did a little video shoot. (If you come to may party on the 16th you will be lucky enough to see this event). The rest of the day seemd like cake after that feat.

We stopped for lunch about 3 hours later, we have reached 3700M in elevation. Everyone's headache and nausea was over. The only dead thing that we saw along the way, was a horse. We think that it ate something bad and the stomach exploded. It was sad, but we were happy that it wasnt us.

After lunch, we asked for a little siesta, as none of us really slept the previous nite. Next thing ya know, everyone was camped out on the tarp of the lunch tent. 20 min power nap, and we were on the trail again (with Willie Nelson playing in the background).

We hiked 4 more hours to our 2nd nite's campsite. It was at only 3200M elevation...and it was WARM! However, the day did not pass without Ruben making friends with people on the trail. He met 3 dudes from Spain and Mexico....we will see them again soon.

This was the day that Mom and Ruben had the discussion that the Atlantic and Pacific met in NYC and then she told him that her toenail fell off while hiking yosemite.

We actually slept this evening, it was a miracle.

The End of the 1st Day and 1st Night

We arrived in camp at 6pm in the evening, it was almost dark. We were all very exhausted, especially since we were told that we were suppose to be walking for 2-3 hours total.

Mom got in her tent to get warm, and curse my name. Ruben chilled with the cooks, German and Bascelia. Alissa, Franco and Sarah decided to play a card game. I tried to keep the peace and drink coca tea. Mom wasnt feeling so good, so I tried to help her with the altitude sickness. Meanwhile, Alissa was not feeling that great either. Ruben commented that this excursion was for young people and to alleviate some of the pain, he drank rum.

We ate dinner in the below freezing tempuratures and went to bed. At 12am, everyone in my tent was awake --- Ruben, Mom and myself----we decided that we should all get up an go to the bathroom. This expedition was enough that we would not go back to sleep. Little did we know, but Alissa was awake , too and wanted to join us, but she was afraid to wake the folks in her tent.

After the bathroom excursion, I went back to sleep, and so did my mom. Ruben did not. He started to get an altitude headache---he woke me at 3.30am and said, "Amy, I think it is over. I am going to die!" His head felt like it was expanding so big that it was going to explode. I proceeded to give him a muscle relaxer, hoping that he would wake in the morning. It worked! he got a couple hours of sleep.

When the sun rose, we were all happy that we made it, even though the sleep was crap!

We were all anxious to get on the trail and get over the 4700M pass and down in elevation.

Salkantay trek --- 5 days

Before arriving in Peru, we decided that we wanted to trek to Macchu Picchu. We did research in advance and decided that the Inca trail was too crowded --- it now has a limit of 500 persons per day. So, we opted for the Salkantay trek, which goes around the base of the mountain Salkantay and up to Agua Calientes (aka Macchu Picchu town).

I spoke to mom and Ruben, they both were in! They had no idea what they were getting themselves into!

We met up with the guide the nite before the trek ....he had some important questions to ask...the main one was....how did we all know eachother? We were an ecclectic bunch!

Our guides name was Franco --- Peruvian n Argentina mix. He rushed into greet us and in the middle of getting the tatoo on his left arm. He outlined the trek by stating that the first day was suppose to be easy -- couple of hours. The Day 2 and 3 were to be long and hard!!! Then, downlhill from there and onto agua calientes. He also informed us about the weather...shouldnt drop below freezing --- nice:)

So, we got a marginal night's sleep and woke up at 5 am to be ready for our bus. We met the cook and his wife --- German and Bacelia. Off we went to the 4 hours drive to the trailhead. We stopped along the way to pick up food for the trek.

At 10am we the mini bus came to a complete stop....we ran out of gas about an hour from the trailhead....started to walk. This should have been a message about the rest of the trip.

Around 11.30am we were at the trailhead and a little tired. The elevation was now at about 3700M, or 10,500 feet. People were eatting coca leaves because it is suppose to alleviate the high altitude sickness. This leaf is very popular in the Andean area. Since our group had to walk to the trailhead, the horses were not ready with all of our gear. We started to walk without the horseman & his horses. We walked about 2.5 hours before we had lunch. The altitude was higher, around 3800M. It started to get cold and windy, not to mention the sun was going down.

3 hours later....we were still hiking...Franco thought that we should push thru so that we could get ahead start on Day 2. This push almost caused Ruben to go into cardiac arrest. All of started to feel the sid affects of the altitude. We were at 4200M above sea level, or 15000 ft!

Needless to say, we were all miserable by the time we set up camp.

Headin` Back

Well, the trip has come to and end. I leave tonite to make the trek to PA. Im sorry for not writing in awhile, it has been busy!!! Livin the rock star lifestyle here in Lima. My moms friend is crazy!!! He has put us up in his penthouse in Miraflores, it is awesome. We have a maid and free run of the house. And he invited his family over, they are wild ...no sleeping, only eatting and drinking.

Anyway, I will update the blog this week with the trek to MP and the Hot Springs...definetly lots to tell.

Im having a party the 16th of Oct. I will show the video and pics... please come!!!!