September 14, 2008 After an uneventful voyage where Roger Fortin joined us in Miami, we arrived in Lima in the morning. We are staying at the Hotel Santa Cruz in a nice neighborhood of Mira Flores. The group of Quebec, arrived the night before, joined us for breakfast. We meet Oscar, who will be our "go" for time of stay in Peru. A walk around us to discover that we are only a few steps from the sea that we are reaching down hundreds of stairs. The pebble beach and the rather cool temperature not conducive for swimming but surfers still give it to their heart.
The morning is devoted to relaxation, a city tour is planned for the afternoon. We learn that Peru is very young, 42% of the population is under 35 years and only 6% over 65 years. On average, women have 7.7 children 2.8 children and couples.
September 15, 2008
We crossed the beautiful neighborhoods of Lima and its slums, reaching an area of reg (sand and stones) Which brings us to the reserve of Paracas
Percé Rock and Bonaventure Island can get dressed. Here are several rocks drilled and many kinds of birds (cormorants, pelicans, gannets, etc..) Nest on the islands that form the archipelago of Paracas, in addition to seals and sea wolves It shows our first line of Nazca, the candelabra. Every five years, Workers collect guano that there is a rich fertilizer. They spend 3-4 months on an island where they are housed in a dormitory. With the smell of ammonia that exists on these islands, the poor should not have much appetite ..
September 17, 2008 We leave for Lima to go in the Chanchamayo valley where the project of "Puerta de oro". We go through the customs post where a couple of mattresses are set pending a paper was missing. We piled mattresses in the remaining space in the hold baggage and back of the bus but fortunately we are a small group because with these "passengers" Further, the bus is full to the brim.
We cross the Andes, peaking at an altitude of over 4800 meters with predictable effects: dizziness, headache, etc.. Nothing serious though, especially when the scenery is breathtaking and we quickly descend to an altitude that is more suited to our small natures. In addition
Monique and Yves ahead, the population of Puerta de Oro welcomes us waving placards. We are entitled to a speech of welcome and a meal prepared by the locals. They have even bothered to translate their slogans into french. The reception is very moving.
few group members are housed in the "little casa" which is very near the project site. The other will go into the "big casa in San Ramon, the next town. Meals will be taken from the "little casa". The journey between the two houses take about 25 minutes for those who want to walk. Oscar commutes between the two locations several times a day to get people to the site, bring them to shower in the late afternoon, bring them to dinner, back to sleep ... It is incredibly effective the Oscar, and always cheerful.
September 18-19-20 2008
It's great tourism, but the goal stays Casira is still humanitarian work. Today it starts.
The "Puerta de Oro" is an old hacienda (farm) that was subdivided. The Government accepts that the land is divided on the condition that certain portions are retained for the community. It was on one of these lands will be the project, a "school" of two classes that will receive preschool children: a room for toddlers, one for children of preschool age. Toilets will be installed in a building adjacent.
Our work? Make cement for the next group did have to put the blocks to climb the walls. What it means? Building calipers that will beam with metal rods of various sizes and thicknesses, cut, kink, tie them together with wire. Shoveling earth (in this case, clay), carrying the rock, fill with water, cement and sand cement mixer, remove this mixture to fill the barrow ditches dug in prior screening by the Peruvians. Y throw rocks (I did say rocks, not stones) that were originally transported by holes. Then resume the land that was taken out of the holes to extend the level and extent possible. We forget here "Bulldozer" and the vibrating plate, all done our fair hands. For a team composed mostly of women (our group consists of only 7 people for about thirty persons) whose average age is over 60 years, we're pretty proud of the work. Another team is developing the "casa" to make it more functional: place the shelves for dishes and food, large table and benches to put more people in an area still limited, installing hot water showers, etc.. In turn, we will be roped into the dishes and kitchen to help Carmen and Erasmo who are in charge of food.
Despite promises of Oscar, there was no "dia suave" and work is progressing at great speed, V.
September 20, 2008 Saturday, the workday ends a little earlier. Tonight we go to La Merced, a nearby town, where there is a "fiesta". Fiesta as it is rather quiet and we lose a few prejudices: when listening to music, Peruvians do not even waddle the contrary, they remain quite stoic. But where is that their Latin origins?
September 21, 2008 Sunday is a holiday. We'll visit an indigenous village that we dress with tunics which are their traditional dress. The dye is natural and in color from light brown to tan. We get a demonstration of traditional music and dance and then we join them to dance before you take a look at the jewelry they sell.
Then we go to falls, Cataratas Bayoz, after a walk of about an hour over mountain roads. A hike on a steep trail - but quite passable - we y meme. Very beautiful waterfalls, followed by a fall down from the mountain. It rained a lot that night and the water is brown and a few brave venture there anyway. We do take the rain to return and we surrender to the second falls accesible from another trail from the same place.
22-23-24-25-26
September 2008 Work days. Nice going. As fair
very hot on the lunch hour, we decided to reschedule. The tour will begin at 7:00 am (which means getting up to 5:30 to 5:45), the lunch will last a bit and the day end at 17:00. Needless to say he is not late when the lights go down and despite the ambient noise, we manage to sleep.
After dinner, Roger gives an hour of English lessons. Our repertoire of songs in English should s'agarandir during the stay.
September 27, 2008
Saturday. Work stopped on site about 11:00. Several group members have provided toys, school supplies, etc.. In their suitcases and this afternoon, there's a party where such goods are sold, proceeds will go to the project. Any licensee found quickly and some gifts are distributed. Two beautiful balloons, a soccer and volleyball are offered to the community and some prizes are given.
Tonight cooks leave because we will eat at the restaurant adjacent to the small house, the Yaroca. Very nice friendly place.
September 28, 2008 Although it's Sunday, there is no sleep because we're going on tour around 7:30. Two outputs have been proposed and the group is split in two.
Personally, I chose to go to the "aguas termales" of Uchubamba. We skirt the tumultuous Chanchamayo which gives its name to the area to get to a pool of sulphurous waters that emerge, we "mijotons" about half an hour. In return, we dine in the beautiful central park of a village. A member of the community opens the doors of City Hall so we can admire the landscape from the roof, then it opens the doors of the charming church on the opposite side of the park. He then leads us down a path that leads to three beautiful waterfalls descending turn of the mountain. Impressive!
What I like tropical vegetation: its huge trees covered with flowers, plants we can see at home and indoors (in reduced format) giant orchids, plus countless plants is not known.
It seems that the other group also experienced a beautiful area by visiting a cave that some found difficult to access.
29-30 September 2008
last day of work at the site of "La Puerta de oro". We have fulfilled the mandate was expected of us: the foundations of the two classes are almost finished and the bathroom walls. Despite the searing heat, the work was constant. In addition, Jacques and Rita have developed a new long table and two benches. Thus, groups that follow us, which are more numerous, will have to settle instead for eating.
October 1, 2008 Today, we finish work at noon. Local people invited us to a meal called "pachamanca", "la comida de la tierra." After digging a hole in the ground, there installs hot rocks that includes meat and vegetables. Everything is covered with banana leaves and then covered with earth. The meal is well cooked, braised for about an hour. And it's delicious! We then
fraternize with the Peruvians singing and dancing. It is then time to our bags to leave this land where we will leave a bit of our heart and our brand.
Oscar and Roger have finalized the purchase of land in the vicinity. It can then build a permanent facility there instead of rented houses where groups staying here.
October 2, 2008
Again, we get up early, we return to Lima. Mountain crossing again with, again, points to more than 4800 meters. Fearing nothing, Rachel and I got into the car with Oscar Roger Fortin. Its a euphemism to say we do not drag on the road, we arrived in Lima around 12:30 pm when the bus with the rest of the group, will arrive around 16:30.
October 3, 2008 This morning flight to Cusco; rest of the morning free. We are staying at the "Residencia del Sol" (no less), while opposite the church of the Dominicans. In the afternoon we have a city tour, including stops at sites of Inca ruins around the city. We are impressed by the work that went into the perfect stacking of rocks of all shapes and all sizes. We then visit the Dominican church, in front of our hotel. In the 50s, following an earthquake, it was discovered that she had been built on Inca ruins.
The tour ends with a visit to the cathedral which is located around the beautiful Plaza de Armas, the most beautiful place in Peru. That gilding in this church!
This beautiful tour ends with a meal at the restaurant "Inka Hall where, in addition to an excellent buffet, we are entitled to a performance of music and folk dances. We all have a little short of breath because of the altitude (nearly 4,000 meters), but that does not prevent us to enjoy this beautiful city we visit too quickly.
October 4, 2008
bus to get to "Aguas Calientes" at the foot of Machu Picchu. En route, we visit a camel farm where you can find all four family members who reside in Peru: llamas and alpacas, domesticated, and the vicuña and guanaco, which live in the wild. You can see artisans spin and weave wool and it explains how the foundation and with what materials. Their shop offers beautiful creations made by local artisans.
is then a stop at the Pisac market, then off to our final destination. The last part of the trip is the train that is the only means of transport leading to "Aguas Calientes" which is a lovely city, but designed obviously for the tourist: a hotel next to a restaurant (pizzeria preferably) adjacent to a shop adjacent to a hotel, etc..
October 5, 2008 It rained last night and we were told it often rains on the Machu Picchu when we bring our raincoats ... that are completely useless as it will an ideal temperature all the time of our visit. Buses plying between the city and the top of the mountain was hidden for several centuries, this impressive site. We arrived early for the sunrise that brought forth the site. What a show! The visit will take all morning and explanations of Jose, a passionate, very interesting.
The Inca culture lasted just over a century and has produced amazing sites. Many of us are pinched in mind that we are on this beautiful site. It is a privilege!
Back to "Aguas Calientes" by the same mountain road that morning. The shuttles are very well organized and we passed several buses. Dinner train and then bus to Cusco.
Cusco is a city where they have the taste ... and settle down to catch his breath while adapting to the altitude. I hope to come back, taking my time this time.
September 17, 2008 We leave for Lima to go in the Chanchamayo valley where the project of "Puerta de oro". We go through the customs post where a couple of mattresses are set pending a paper was missing. We piled mattresses in the remaining space in the hold baggage and back of the bus but fortunately we are a small group because with these "passengers" Further, the bus is full to the brim.
We cross the Andes, peaking at an altitude of over 4800 meters with predictable effects: dizziness, headache, etc.. Nothing serious though, especially when the scenery is breathtaking and we quickly descend to an altitude that is more suited to our small natures. In addition
Monique and Yves ahead, the population of Puerta de Oro welcomes us waving placards. We are entitled to a speech of welcome and a meal prepared by the locals. They have even bothered to translate their slogans into french. The reception is very moving.
few group members are housed in the "little casa" which is very near the project site. The other will go into the "big casa in San Ramon, the next town. Meals will be taken from the "little casa". The journey between the two houses take about 25 minutes for those who want to walk. Oscar commutes between the two locations several times a day to get people to the site, bring them to shower in the late afternoon, bring them to dinner, back to sleep ... It is incredibly effective the Oscar, and always cheerful.
September 18-19-20 2008
It's great tourism, but the goal stays Casira is still humanitarian work. Today it starts.
The "Puerta de Oro" is an old hacienda (farm) that was subdivided. The Government accepts that the land is divided on the condition that certain portions are retained for the community. It was on one of these lands will be the project, a "school" of two classes that will receive preschool children: a room for toddlers, one for children of preschool age. Toilets will be installed in a building adjacent.
Our work? Make cement for the next group did have to put the blocks to climb the walls. What it means? Building calipers that will beam with metal rods of various sizes and thicknesses, cut, kink, tie them together with wire. Shoveling earth (in this case, clay), carrying the rock, fill with water, cement and sand cement mixer, remove this mixture to fill the barrow ditches dug in prior screening by the Peruvians. Y throw rocks (I did say rocks, not stones) that were originally transported by holes. Then resume the land that was taken out of the holes to extend the level and extent possible. We forget here "Bulldozer" and the vibrating plate, all done our fair hands. For a team composed mostly of women (our group consists of only 7 people for about thirty persons) whose average age is over 60 years, we're pretty proud of the work. Another team is developing the "casa" to make it more functional: place the shelves for dishes and food, large table and benches to put more people in an area still limited, installing hot water showers, etc.. In turn, we will be roped into the dishes and kitchen to help Carmen and Erasmo who are in charge of food.
Despite promises of Oscar, there was no "dia suave" and work is progressing at great speed, V.
September 20, 2008 Saturday, the workday ends a little earlier. Tonight we go to La Merced, a nearby town, where there is a "fiesta". Fiesta as it is rather quiet and we lose a few prejudices: when listening to music, Peruvians do not even waddle the contrary, they remain quite stoic. But where is that their Latin origins?
September 21, 2008 Sunday is a holiday. We'll visit an indigenous village that we dress with tunics which are their traditional dress. The dye is natural and in color from light brown to tan. We get a demonstration of traditional music and dance and then we join them to dance before you take a look at the jewelry they sell.
Then we go to falls, Cataratas Bayoz, after a walk of about an hour over mountain roads. A hike on a steep trail - but quite passable - we y meme. Very beautiful waterfalls, followed by a fall down from the mountain. It rained a lot that night and the water is brown and a few brave venture there anyway. We do take the rain to return and we surrender to the second falls accesible from another trail from the same place.
22-23-24-25-26
September 2008 Work days. Nice going. As fair
very hot on the lunch hour, we decided to reschedule. The tour will begin at 7:00 am (which means getting up to 5:30 to 5:45), the lunch will last a bit and the day end at 17:00. Needless to say he is not late when the lights go down and despite the ambient noise, we manage to sleep.
After dinner, Roger gives an hour of English lessons. Our repertoire of songs in English should s'agarandir during the stay.
September 27, 2008
Saturday. Work stopped on site about 11:00. Several group members have provided toys, school supplies, etc.. In their suitcases and this afternoon, there's a party where such goods are sold, proceeds will go to the project. Any licensee found quickly and some gifts are distributed. Two beautiful balloons, a soccer and volleyball are offered to the community and some prizes are given.
Tonight cooks leave because we will eat at the restaurant adjacent to the small house, the Yaroca. Very nice friendly place.
September 28, 2008 Although it's Sunday, there is no sleep because we're going on tour around 7:30. Two outputs have been proposed and the group is split in two.
Personally, I chose to go to the "aguas termales" of Uchubamba. We skirt the tumultuous Chanchamayo which gives its name to the area to get to a pool of sulphurous waters that emerge, we "mijotons" about half an hour. In return, we dine in the beautiful central park of a village. A member of the community opens the doors of City Hall so we can admire the landscape from the roof, then it opens the doors of the charming church on the opposite side of the park. He then leads us down a path that leads to three beautiful waterfalls descending turn of the mountain. Impressive!
What I like tropical vegetation: its huge trees covered with flowers, plants we can see at home and indoors (in reduced format) giant orchids, plus countless plants is not known.
It seems that the other group also experienced a beautiful area by visiting a cave that some found difficult to access.
29-30 September 2008
last day of work at the site of "La Puerta de oro". We have fulfilled the mandate was expected of us: the foundations of the two classes are almost finished and the bathroom walls. Despite the searing heat, the work was constant. In addition, Jacques and Rita have developed a new long table and two benches. Thus, groups that follow us, which are more numerous, will have to settle instead for eating.
October 1, 2008 Today, we finish work at noon. Local people invited us to a meal called "pachamanca", "la comida de la tierra." After digging a hole in the ground, there installs hot rocks that includes meat and vegetables. Everything is covered with banana leaves and then covered with earth. The meal is well cooked, braised for about an hour. And it's delicious! We then
fraternize with the Peruvians singing and dancing. It is then time to our bags to leave this land where we will leave a bit of our heart and our brand.
Oscar and Roger have finalized the purchase of land in the vicinity. It can then build a permanent facility there instead of rented houses where groups staying here.
October 2, 2008
Again, we get up early, we return to Lima. Mountain crossing again with, again, points to more than 4800 meters. Fearing nothing, Rachel and I got into the car with Oscar Roger Fortin. Its a euphemism to say we do not drag on the road, we arrived in Lima around 12:30 pm when the bus with the rest of the group, will arrive around 16:30.
October 3, 2008 This morning flight to Cusco; rest of the morning free. We are staying at the "Residencia del Sol" (no less), while opposite the church of the Dominicans. In the afternoon we have a city tour, including stops at sites of Inca ruins around the city. We are impressed by the work that went into the perfect stacking of rocks of all shapes and all sizes. We then visit the Dominican church, in front of our hotel. In the 50s, following an earthquake, it was discovered that she had been built on Inca ruins.
The tour ends with a visit to the cathedral which is located around the beautiful Plaza de Armas, the most beautiful place in Peru. That gilding in this church!
This beautiful tour ends with a meal at the restaurant "Inka Hall where, in addition to an excellent buffet, we are entitled to a performance of music and folk dances. We all have a little short of breath because of the altitude (nearly 4,000 meters), but that does not prevent us to enjoy this beautiful city we visit too quickly.
October 4, 2008
bus to get to "Aguas Calientes" at the foot of Machu Picchu. En route, we visit a camel farm where you can find all four family members who reside in Peru: llamas and alpacas, domesticated, and the vicuña and guanaco, which live in the wild. You can see artisans spin and weave wool and it explains how the foundation and with what materials. Their shop offers beautiful creations made by local artisans.
is then a stop at the Pisac market, then off to our final destination. The last part of the trip is the train that is the only means of transport leading to "Aguas Calientes" which is a lovely city, but designed obviously for the tourist: a hotel next to a restaurant (pizzeria preferably) adjacent to a shop adjacent to a hotel, etc..
October 5, 2008 It rained last night and we were told it often rains on the Machu Picchu when we bring our raincoats ... that are completely useless as it will an ideal temperature all the time of our visit. Buses plying between the city and the top of the mountain was hidden for several centuries, this impressive site. We arrived early for the sunrise that brought forth the site. What a show! The visit will take all morning and explanations of Jose, a passionate, very interesting.
The Inca culture lasted just over a century and has produced amazing sites. Many of us are pinched in mind that we are on this beautiful site. It is a privilege!
Back to "Aguas Calientes" by the same mountain road that morning. The shuttles are very well organized and we passed several buses. Dinner train and then bus to Cusco.
Cusco is a city where they have the taste ... and settle down to catch his breath while adapting to the altitude. I hope to come back, taking my time this time.
text from a blog can be found on the site CASIRA
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