Hey There!
I know it has been a while since my last update but I just thought a final group email before my return would be nice. I am currently in Cusco and soaking up as much of this magical city as I can. It is really incredible and there is so much history and culture everywhere I turn! The past couple of weeks have been filled with adventure and exploration over many different cities in Peru. Around three and a half weeks ago we started our ¨free travel¨ which is a part in the trip where the students plan out where we go, what we do, and all the information in between. It was a lot of work but in the end we had a fabulous two weeks traveling all over Peru including a variety of activities and places to see.
First, we left Arequipa where we had been for the previous two weeks in home stays and attending Spanish school daily. We went straight on an overnight bus ride to Pisco and spent two days at the beach and exploring islands with various animals, even penguins! The next two days we went to Ica just a few hours away and learned how to sand board. It was so great! The city is basically surrounded by incredible sand dunes and besides the fact that it is absolutely gorgeous, sand boarding proved to be a new adventurous activity for us to try- definitely makes me curious about potential snowboarding this winter! After Ica we went to Puno which is famous for Lago (lake) Titicaca and the floating islands. I encourage anyone to look up pictures and the history of this fascinating place. We did an overnight with families on one of the islands and learned more about their lifestyle having grown up in what seems like such a different environment. The week after Lago Titicaca we spent in Cusco exploring local markets, horseback riding to some of the ancient ruins, and even a day of intense mountain biking. Talk about new experiences!
With such a busy two weeks it was a great time in the trip for our Yoga retreat. Last night we came back from four days in the outskirts of the Sacred Valley of Cusco where we had been practicing yoga twice a day and learning about a variety of topics throughout the retreat such as Reiki and the different chakras. The location couldn't have been better and now after having recharged a little we are off to Machu Picchu tomorrow! Tomorrow we start our 4 day trek to Machu Picchu on the Salkantay trail. Although I am really excited for the following week it is still crazy to think the end to this specific trip is coming so soon. I am already anxious to plan more summer trips and future travels throughout college! Hope you enjoyed this update, sorry it got a little lengthy there is just so much to write about... Once again thank you to everybody who helped be get to where I am today, I can´t help but look around so often and smile at all the surrounding beauty and just send out a quick telepathic thank you so I hope you have all been getting it!
Hope your enjoying the last week of April! CARPE DIEM!
Jordan
PS: If you want to take a look at our group blog:
http://ping.fm/8de9g
I know it has been a while since my last update but I just thought a final group email before my return would be nice. I am currently in Cusco and soaking up as much of this magical city as I can. It is really incredible and there is so much history and culture everywhere I turn! The past couple of weeks have been filled with adventure and exploration over many different cities in Peru. Around three and a half weeks ago we started our ¨free travel¨ which is a part in the trip where the students plan out where we go, what we do, and all the information in between. It was a lot of work but in the end we had a fabulous two weeks traveling all over Peru including a variety of activities and places to see.
First, we left Arequipa where we had been for the previous two weeks in home stays and attending Spanish school daily. We went straight on an overnight bus ride to Pisco and spent two days at the beach and exploring islands with various animals, even penguins! The next two days we went to Ica just a few hours away and learned how to sand board. It was so great! The city is basically surrounded by incredible sand dunes and besides the fact that it is absolutely gorgeous, sand boarding proved to be a new adventurous activity for us to try- definitely makes me curious about potential snowboarding this winter! After Ica we went to Puno which is famous for Lago (lake) Titicaca and the floating islands. I encourage anyone to look up pictures and the history of this fascinating place. We did an overnight with families on one of the islands and learned more about their lifestyle having grown up in what seems like such a different environment. The week after Lago Titicaca we spent in Cusco exploring local markets, horseback riding to some of the ancient ruins, and even a day of intense mountain biking. Talk about new experiences!
With such a busy two weeks it was a great time in the trip for our Yoga retreat. Last night we came back from four days in the outskirts of the Sacred Valley of Cusco where we had been practicing yoga twice a day and learning about a variety of topics throughout the retreat such as Reiki and the different chakras. The location couldn't have been better and now after having recharged a little we are off to Machu Picchu tomorrow! Tomorrow we start our 4 day trek to Machu Picchu on the Salkantay trail. Although I am really excited for the following week it is still crazy to think the end to this specific trip is coming so soon. I am already anxious to plan more summer trips and future travels throughout college! Hope you enjoyed this update, sorry it got a little lengthy there is just so much to write about... Once again thank you to everybody who helped be get to where I am today, I can´t help but look around so often and smile at all the surrounding beauty and just send out a quick telepathic thank you so I hope you have all been getting it!
Hope your enjoying the last week of April! CARPE DIEM!
Jordan
PS: If you want to take a look at our group blog:
http://ping.fm/8de9g
