Merry (almost) Christmas

Hello all,

As I sit here writing, the sun is shining and the Christmas decorations are multiplying. It is quite strange for me to consider this to be Christmas season without the fluffy white stuff or the nip in the air I am so accustomed to, but I am enjoying watching as this country changes and prepares for the holiday season. I am jealous, however, of the news I get of the loads of snow that has fallen in the northern states...hopefully some of it will be around when I return for my brief stay in January!

I wanted to update you all on my adventures since the last time I wrote. Unfortunately, pics have been a bit challenging for me to upload recently, but I will keep trying, to keep checking the blog for picture entries! I spent Thanksgiving up in Tarapoto with Lib and Benj, which was wonderful. VERY hot! Tarapoto is in the jungle, so I don't think we stopped sweating the entire trip. We ended up at Laguna Azul (blue lake) with a few other American Peace Corps Volunteers, where we enjoyed the local fresh fish and fruit, went on some amazing hikes through the jungle, swam across the lake, and relaxed with the locals. The trip was invigorating for me, and a much needed break from the work I'd been doing here in Cusco.

The past few weekends I have been lucky enough to do some amazing traveling in southern Peru. 3 weekends ago, Seppe and I headed out on an adventure to hike to some ruins called Huchuy Qosco. It was an outstanding hike, starting just above Cusco, 3600 meters or so, with 4 passes, the highest of which was 4250, and ending 26 kilometers later at some beutiful ruins you can only hike to. We camped in the ruins (literally), awoke in the clouds, and enjoyed watching the sun warm the valley thousands of meters below us. Absolutely breathtaking. We then hiked up another pass (4400 meters) and ended at a great little town, completely exhausted.

This past weekend, we (on a bit of a whim) jetted to Arequipa, which is a city southwest from Cusco. After an overnight bus on friday night, we took a bus for 5 more hours to the Colca Canyon. It is the deepest canyon in the world, and also happens to house the famous Peruvian condors. We ended up hiking down the canyon on Sat afternoon, and stayed in a little bungalo at the bottom of the canyon, sans electricity. Beautiful. Sunday morning we arose before the sun to be hiking by 5am...unreal. We hiked out of the canyon, caught a bus, and were blessed with a few sightings of the condors on our way out of the canyon. An unforgetable weekend, to be sure. Pics to come!!

Now I am back in Cusco, helping to prepare Yanapay (the kids program I work at) for our big Christmas party this weekend. The doctors at the health post are still on strike (quite a frustrating phenomenon for yours truly), but I am managing. I am looking forward to Christmas in Musho with Lib and Benj - I depart sunday the 23rd for 5 days with them.

If I don't have a chance to post before Christmas, please know that I am sending happy holiday wishes to all of you and tons of love during this season...

Lv,

Laurita