Machu Picchu

Our weekend in Machu Picchu has been one of the best in long time. We felt again like during our first half a year of travelling. We went there with Alanna - our American volunteer - so altogether the three of us.

We have decided for the easier option and took the train both ways instead of doing it the cheap way by overnight bus and then trekking for a couple of hours. We have departed very early in the morning and arrived still to have breakfast in Aquas Calientes. We found a decent hotel, had a walk in the town which is nothing more than an artifical chaotically build tourist town consisting solely of overpriced hotels and restaurants.

The rest of the afternoon we have spent in the outdoor spa drinking mohitos and enjoying the excellent views. The evening was a great surprise, as it was so warm that we could eat outdoors our dinner. After Cusco where it gets freezing cold whenever the sun is behind the clouds, Aquas Calientes felt like heaven. Although we had a very nice place to stay overnight we did not take into consideration that till early morning hours we would have a party right under our windows...anyway we had to wake up at 4am to start the claim to Machu Picchu - it was pitch dark and we had no torches so we had quite a challenge - it took us 90 minutes to get to the top - quite a steep ascent and we felt exhausted but happy to have made it. By that time there were already lots of people lining up for the tickets. Once we entered the whole place was covered by fog and we could not see anything. Since the site is quite huge and I have visited it a couple of years ago - I was supposed to know where the things to see where located - although I tried to convince Rita that we have just passed them but they are not visible I had to take the "blame"of being not prepared :))) Anyway after waiting for hours during which Rita got acquited with the llama's (or where those alpacas?) finally the magnificient ruins revealed themselves to us. They are always amazing and the great thing was that we were all in a daze - I think we will need to go there still one day in the future - I cannot get enough of it - it is just as nice as Angkor Wat...both amazing things in the middle of the jungle.



Our bunny Chaplin is also doing great - it is great to have him around as he is very happy in the morning to see us and during the day visits us in our rooms. He is quite social and pretty much understands quickly when it is time for him to leave to his place on the patio.

As to our BrucePeru Cusco center: lots of changes have been recently introduced which have not always been accepted immediately by everyone.

Anyway our schools start nowadays at 9.00 o'clock instead of 9.30 as earlier. There is a weekly meeting on Friday's where the teachers plan the week - we will still revamp it a bit but at least we have some coordination nowadays... We have also introduced everyday reports from school with attendance lists etc. So we know how many kids are in the school and what is needed.
We will also shortly have meetings with kids that have graduated from our schools last two years. Unfortunately we will be closing one of the schools as we do not have enough kids there...this will probably take place next week...

We have uploaded lots of new pictures especially from our Ticatica school. Most of the new pictures were made by Alanna and are just excellent!!!



Last week we have also had our first pub quiz which was a great success - mainly thanks to the queen of the night - Amelia - our new volunteer made a great show and we have managed to raise 140 USD. As of now we have altogether raised in total USD 1220 which is more than GREAT!!! The biggest amount of it thanks to Alanna's dad...We are really happy that there are people who are willing to help like this. We and all the kids are greatly indebted to them and everyone who has helped so far. We are also in the middle of organizing a big party and the most fancy club in Cusco - where we will have a cooking show, dancing etc and all proceeds from the tickets will come to us - not to mention that everyone who comes will have to bring some clothing as donation - it will take place on the 27th of September...


Once again BIG THANK YOU again to everyone - especially to Alanna !!! We are still waiting though for more so if you can please help...

As to our center - things have changed much as well - we have a repainted the bathroom as mentioned before, Sonia our cook makes great dishes and keeps the place clean, bread gets delivered to us every morning and we save costs by doing the shopping on the cheapest market only once per week...so things are changing and it is a great feeling !!!