lunes, 21 de julio de 2008

Lineas de Nazca



Talvez sí vengamos de extraterrestres

domingo, 20 de julio de 2008

Tres Cruces



I have heard many stories about Tres Cruces, some of them almost unreal, so I´ll tell you what I saw...
Remember when the people in the dark ages thought about the world being flat and ending in an abism? well, thats what I saw in Tres Cruces, the end of the land and in front of me just clouds, some as big as highways, some as shaped as godesses bodies, all of them forming a white tablecloth over the rainforest laying below, and at 0600 all different colors start coming up in the air laying ahead, first a striped baby blue and black heaven, then a yellowish square and then finally the Sun, majestic as ever, doing little jumps up and down to let us know He´s happy we´re there. Shapes of red dance dress the clouds and as the wind separates them the deep green of the rainforest starts to be seen...

The Sun is high now, but the awe is still here, rendering us speechless and stuck to our places, it´ll be a few minutes till the first person decides to make a single movement, a single sound. Nobody wants to be brought back to reality, not yet, just not yet...

viernes, 18 de julio de 2008

Festival de Paucartambo a la Mamacha Carmen



And you know how much I love festivals!!!
There is no Paucartambinos left in Paucartambo, everybody pretty much emigrated in the 50's looking for a better life but every year they return home to see their land, their people and most importantly Mamacha Carmen.
Legend tells of the mix up of face masks: the one coming to Paucartambo from Rome went to Puno and the one going to Puno came to Paucartambo and was received by the Chunchos and later taken away from them by the priests. The Chunchos love that shiny mask without knowing why and to this day they dont care if she's the Virgin or not, they just know she's a good lady and that's why they protect her with their lifes when people from Puno (los Collas)come to take her to her rightfull place.



Parades, food, fireworks, even a war to defend the Mamacha took place here for 4 days, 4 days to remember and to hope to come back, just like the Paucartambinos do every year. Maybe they've noticed they had the "better life" right here...

lunes, 14 de julio de 2008

Caminata Lares - Moray



Three days of contact with nature, three days of delightful lonely walks accross green pastures and mighthy hights, three days of embracing the elements and gazing the stars, I´ve just finished it and long for it already...


It all started with a sweet gift (swiss chocolate, thanks Rebbeca) and a cargo truck ride to my starting point: Lares and its hot springs. A one walk brings me to the hardest, and most beautifull, part of the trek: crossing the Andes at the Ucchupata Pass, somewhere in the 5000's mts high. Going up the pass you can find several lakes, hidden by the clouds in mid afternoon but shinning white in the morning as the sun rays caress them. Yes, I camped here. The morning dew was more a morning frost but the sun quickly came to help and enjoy breakfast by my side. We talked for a bit and before He left, He pointed to the wooden croos atop the pass. That would be my mark to reach that day. Not an easy task as with each step the 20kg pack became heavier and heavier but the soaring heights brought a gift with them, an amazing view of the rainforest which laid just past the mountains and could now be seen from an angle. Incredible view!

And from the heights, one can only go down, so a fairly easy six hour walk took me to the salt mines, pretty but exercion takes it toll and makes it hard to enjoy. Good company brings me over Maras where I can rest for the night and begin the rest of the walk the next day: to the agriculture centre of Moray, almost alien looking circles beautify this huge hole in the ground. Maybe there were aliens here, who could tell?