26 Peru Menlo Abroad

 ¡Hola from Ollantaytambo! It's Kaitlyn and Katelynne! Today was our very last full day in Peru. We started the day with a breakfast of freshly baked bread with avocado, jam, cheese, and eggs. We spent the rest of the morning discussing our trip experience as a group and writing reflections. It was a really meaningful to realize how close the group had gotten and how much we had learned over the past 3 weeks. We then had an amazing lunch at a local restaurant, where they served meat on sizzling hot rocks. Much of the group went to a nearby coffee shop afterwards for crepes, milkshakes, and ice cream as a last day treat! In the afternoon, we explored the plaza and the many souvenir shops, and visited the ruins of Ollantaytambo. We all really enjoyed walking through such ancient structures and learning about their history. Finally, we returned to our favorite dinner spot for some more Peruvian burgers and pasta. We've really enjoyed our trip together and are hanging on to the las...

 Hello from Ollataytambo!       Today was an eventful day filled with wonder (the seventh, to be precise!). After our best sleep in weeks and a relaxing hotel breakfast, we were off to a tour of Machu Picchu. We took a bus up through steep switchbacks until we finally glimpsed the majesty of the mountain city nestled on the summit. Our tour guide, a fast-talking character named Ulysses, had us in awe and doubling over in laughter as we navigated through ancient streets and temples.  Ulysses told us several fun facts about the city; for instance, Incas likely didn't build the foundations of the city, they simply inhabited an abandoned settlement and built on top of it. We also learned why the city had been left untouched for centuries: Spanish colonizers denounced traveling to the mountains in order to strengthen a reliance on one 'true' deity; they saw no use in seeking a god other than that of Catholicism.       Our tour ended with a sm...

¡¡Hola Familias!! Today we woke up at 6:30, like normal, for our last morning with the homestays. After breakfast, we walked together to Don Tomás's house for the goodbye ceremony. We took lots of pictures, hugged lots of times, and shed a few tears. We gathered in a circle, when Doña Gladys, the wonderful mother who facilitated all of our meals at the house, presented us all with small painted pots as a gift so that we always remember Zurite. We all thanked her profusely for her hospitality and promised that we would never forget them or the town. Then, Johannes gifted us all custom mugs with pictures of Zurite and Machu Picchu, telling us that every time we had a drink, we will remember them. After many tears, hugs, and goodbyes, we bid Zurite farewell and embarked on our bus ride to the train station in Ollantaytambo. When we arrived, Kurt, Daniel, Nilesh, and Sam needed to use the restroom, which costed money. We didn't have any cash on had, so we tried bargaining our way i...

Hola, familias,       Today was a special day. We woke up in performance mode. Lights, camera, action. The morning was packed with performances combining both American and Peruvian cultures. We started with a beautiful rendition of Hotel California featuring Matt and Jonah on guitar. Right after, the dance Murohn and Nilesh made was lit and we performed with a 110% energy. After a farewell at the school, we quickly scurried back and started to prepare for Pachamanca.       We worked tirelessly: stoking the fire encased in the rock oven, washing potatoes, making the sauce, and grinding the corn for tamales. Once the fire was prepared, we watched as Don Tomas and the Tios steadily dismantled the oven and covered the food in rocks and spices. To fight our stomachs groaning, we passed time by making friendship bracelets, playing street games, and enjoying each other's company.      The Pachamanca was finally ready, so we gracefully line...