3.08.2010

Andes Mountain Escapade

Oh man.  This was the most uncomfortable, adventurous, exhilarating, humbling, and connecting weekend of my life.  I survived a 10-hour bus ride on narrow muddy roads up the Andes Mountains, a four hour uphill hike in the rain, a 4AM horse ride (in which I fell off once, my husband fell off twice), eating guinea pig for the second time and sleeping in a twin bed with two other people (my husband on the left, me in the middle, and Whitney on the right, squishy). 

I enjoyed napping in the grass by a mountain lagoon, seeing a baptism in the river (I’m LDS, The Church is TRUE!), seeing humble living (did you know toilet paper and indoor plumbing are precious commodities? Enjoy them), hiking thru the Andes Mountains, sitting in a natural hot spring with the green mountain scenery, drinking natural spring water (which hopefully I will not regret), and riding a horse by moonlight with my hubby’s arm’s around my waist.  









I have about 100 bug bites entrenched in my skin (scratch scratch scratch), my back kills from the sleeping conditions, I got the sniffles from having wet icy feet for more than half the time, my red nose is peeling off (half from the tough tissues, half from a sunburn), I have bubbly blisters on my bubbly toes, my arm hurts from holding on to the horse’s mane for 2 hours straight praying I wouldn’t fall again, yet I am beyond grateful for the experiences that caused so much pain and discomfort. 

When you stretch yourself it may cause pain and discomfort, but that’s how you become stronger, more self-aware, and more resilient to future pains and discomforts.  This trip stretched me physically, mentally, and emotionally.  I feel I have been given so much from the experience.

The people were so humble, carefree, and giving.  I saw how spoiled I am, and I mean SPOILEDLife is very different in the Andes Mountains for these people.

This time I have spent in Peru is opening my eyes to new things.

Let me show you what I saw:

Bienvenidos to the Andes Mountains. 
Cachicadan: a quaint mountain town. 
Natural Hot Pots. 
Mountain Mist. 
Icicles shaped like feet
Coca Tea, made from the same plant that cocaine is made from.  Hmmmm.... 
Our room was lit by candle light.


Peruvian Sunrise. 
The Lagoon at Huamachuco where I took the best nap.
The baptism we attended instead of going to the ruins.  There are plenty of ruins right?  How often do you get to go to a baptism in the river in the Andes Mountains?  I'd say once in your life.

Did I mention I did all this for twenty dollars?  Can you believe that? Me neither. Weird. Make friends with the locals.


What was your weekend Adventure?

6 comments:

Brian and Kayla said...

WOW Rachael! I mean, WOW! I am so envious of such a rare experience! And you got to be with your hubby all along the way. I laughed when you said you fell off the horse once, and Chase did twice. Way to go! WOW!

Lesley said...

what a beautiful, romantic trip. the picture of the baptism gives me chills!

Aron said...

Wow, and that was just a weekend!

Elisabeth A, Gry J said...

seems like you had a wonderful trip! Like the pictures!

Sher said...

Ummm I have no words but WOW! This sounds like the adventure of a lifetime!! Thanks for sharing the experience:)

xx

Connie @ SogniESorrisi said...

Amazing. Stunning photos.

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