NEATure

It's crazy to believe it's already been a month here in Peru. Time here is quickly passing, and I'm not sure I like the speed. Everyday here has been a new adventure, a lesson learned, and everything in between.

Bringing it back to last Tuesday, the whole group got to explore historical Lima aloft a double decker bus. Of course, our group took over the upper level and off we went. Every time I see a new district, it never ceases to amaze me how different each district of the same city is. As we arrived in the historical district of Lima, the architecture transformed. The evidence of European influence was strong, as the the roofs were no longer flat, and the streets became narrower. 

Our bus stopped at the Monastery of San Fransisco, where we were immediately flooded with vendors trying to sell us a variety of knick-knacks. When we entered the church, we wandered around and looked at the preserved tiles and art. However the highlight of the day was actually found underneath of the church, as we got to tour the recently discovered catacombs. Surrounded by bones and skulls layered thick with dust, I couldn't help but think I was in some sort of creepy horror movie. I loved every second of it. We also stepped foot into a library, which immediately transported my mind to Hogwarts. Hanging chandeliers, antique textiles and those little ladder things that slide back and forth had me believing that I was somewhere magical. Although I seem to enjoy nature more than the city, this historical site had me head over heels.

Some of the architecture from El Centro!

My bus buddy and I! 

Fast forwarding to Wednesday night, a few of the girls and I took our first overnight bus to Huaraz. I was super excited to spend a night traveling in exchange for all the daylight possible to explore. Unfortunately, our beauty sleep was interrupted by a screaming child who roared for about five of the eight hour trip. When we arrived Thursday morning we groggily made our way to the hostel, where we were greeted by one of the sweetest men I've ever met. The owner of the hostel (Emilio AKA Dad) welcomed us immediately like family. Throughout the weekend I was in awe over the hospitality he provided us. From waiting with us in the rain for a taxi, to waking up at 5 AM to let us out, he treated us like 7 of his own. 

Most of Thursday morning was spent catching up on sleep. When we ventured out of bed at about noon, Emilio showed us to a little family restaurant where we enjoyed a 3 course meal for only 5 soles ($1.44). After lunch, we walked around the city for a bit. We found a lawn full of llamas, the plaza, and an abundance of stores; one where I made the best purchase of my life, a pair of hiking boots. As the day drug on, I realized I hadn't ate much and "Abby" quickly transformed into "crAbby". One of the biggest lessons of the weekend was that me + no food = bad news. Luckily, the girls took great care of me, and we stopped for supper. I ordered a cheese pizza, and didn't realize it was made with kraft singles until about the 6th slice. 

Loved the clouds over this little plaza!

These girls are the best! They handled me well when I was at my worst... AKA hangry :) 

Friday morning we actually had no idea where we were going until we got on the bus. I thought I was ready to take on whatever the day brought, until I was told we were headed to hike a glacier... and I was wearing shorts. Luckily enough, I packed a pair of sweatpants just in case. Not to toot my own horn, but I would consider myself in decent shape, however upon arrival I was humbled by the fact that the lack of oxygen in the air can really alter everything. Climbing the slightest incline took my breath away, and given that we were 16,400 feet above sea level I chose to ride a horse up most of the mountain. I felt genuine fear as my horsey decided he wanted to sprint (do horses do that?) up the side of the mountain, and my ghetto saddle was shifting and sliding around everywhere. Let's just say I was pleased when I got the chance to get off and walk again. The last leg of the hike, the weather took a turn for the worse as we were pelted with sleet. We snapped a couple photos and returned to descend the mountain. By the time we got to the bottom, the altitude and hunger mixture had gotten the best of me. I sat quickly and refueled with some Cheetos before getting back on the bus to return to Huaraz and our warm beds.

This little pond was so colorful! The picture doesn't do it justice. 

Pastoruri Glacier

The next morning, we woke up at about 4:30 AM in preparation for the infamous Laguna 69 hike. We took a bumpy bus ride through several small towns and arrived at the start of the trek. In high spirits, we began the climb up to the turquoise waters of the lake. Our hike started off very simple and flat, and we were accompanied by some cattle. We walked next to a rushing river and shortly came across our first set of switchbacks. After this first set, we were sure we were almost there. Fighting the altitude and hunger (surprise, Abby's hungry!), my state of being took a turn for the worse. I somehow managed to hit my second wind, however, and we continued on. When we finally caught a glimpse of the magnificent lake, I think I honestly shed a quick tear. I had never been so happy to sit down and rest! We enjoyed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and took in the beauty of the lake. Our descend down was equally as grueling as the way up, and I was sure I was going to lose my lunch on more than one occasion, but I pushed through the sickness and made it down. Looking back, it was the hardest hike I've ever done, but the most rewarding. The view was amazing and I learned a lot along the way.

A PB&J has never tasted so good. 

Part of the hike.... We started at the very bottom of the waterfall, and made our way up to the tippy top!

The last day in Huaraz was very relaxing. Once again we had no idea where we were going until about halfway into the bus ride. We ended up in a small town called Chavin, where we got to explore some pre-incan ruins. I was overjoyed that the day wasn't too physically taxing. We spent most of the day in the bus, but I wasn't complaining. We got back to Huaraz late, and rushed to catch our bus back to Lima. As the girls and I looked around, we were happy to see that there were no toddlers aboard. However, this bus ride lacked air conditioning which called for another sleepless bus ride. 

Greetings from: Jesus... I loved this statue that stood at the entrance of Chavin. 

A view of the underground tunnels from the Chavin ruins. 

Another week down, and several busy ones to come! February includes midterm exams, a 10 day stay at a beach house for spring break, and a trip to southern Peru. If you've made it this far into my blog, I want to thank you for taking the time to read about my adventures. Hugs, kisses, and until next time! Mwuah! 

Couldn't have made it through the hike without these girls! Thanks for staying positive and rolling with whatever came our way :)