Greetings from a gorgeous morning in Ollantaytambo, Peru!
Warmly greeted by Adela and Savannah at the airport yesterday, we all packed the van and headed towards Ollantaytambo.Set against beautiful mountains on all sides and an area rich in Incan history, Ollantaytambo provided the girls with a full day of exploration, beauty, friendship, delicious meals, and even a closing evening ceremony hosted by a local Quechuan shaman. Let me take you through some of the highlights so far.
You reach the Full Moon Lodge where we are staying by heading down quaint cobbletsone roads and finding your way through a doorway that opens upon an interior courtyard and garden area. Upon arrival the girls had a chance to meet the lovely owner of the lodge, as well as Sebastian and Sol, her adorable two children. The girls greatly enjoyed introducing themselves to everyone in Spanish and getting to know the owner´s kind and generous family. After a delicious brunch of eggs, toasted bread, coffee, and cocoa leaf tea, we were all recharged and ready to explore.
Adolpho took us on a short hike to see 12th century Incan grain storage containers in the hillsides that surround the city. Standing at a resting point on the hike you turn to greet a city that offers you the glories of the Incan past as well as a chance to observe the daily, bustling village life of Ollantaytambo, 2012.
After our hike we had a chance to explore Ollantaytambo up close. The girls walked along the cobblestone streets, seeing signs of Incan life in the ancient Incan doorways and building stonework. Everywhere and in each interaction the girls had opportunities to speak in Spanish, whether it was asking for directions, purchasing a locally made hat and handmade ponchos (see the photo of Sarah and Maggie), or even talking with local school children making their way home from classes in the afternoon. The day continued with a restaurant lunch and then a chance for an afternoon siesta to recharge from the long journey.
We gathered together at 5pm to greet a local Quechuan shaman who would take us through a moving ceremony in honor of mother earth. The girls listened to his message about connecting across humanity and looking for similiarities rather than differences among cultures, races, and socio-economic levels. Each girl had a chance to offer her hopes for the future and the ceremony ended with a celebratory bonfire outside. After this moving experience we headed into town for a delicious meal at a local restaurant.
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