It's real. I'm here. All the preparation obstacles are a thing of the past. Now it has become a process of pure survival. The nervousness of arriving in a foreign country increased with each bump of turbulence along the way. Arriving at the Cuzco airport, I was instantly thrown into a world completely outside of my comfort zone. A polar opposite to the world I am accustomed to. Taxis gassing through the city at 100 km/hour, trash enveloping my feet, and people speaking to me in Spanish faster than Twista in his prime. I was soon met by a warm Peruvian face, holding a sign with my name on it. Augusto drove me the two hours to my place in Ollantaytambo, asking only a minimal amount for his services. I was still at a loss for words from the shock of arrival. With my numerous years of Spanish studies, I could barely choke out the word "hola". Putting my luggage on the bed, I prepared to rest after 30+ hours of sleepless travel. Within a minute, my door was opened to an explanation that my boss was around and wanted to meet me. Meeting me involved him throwing me in a taxi, driving me up to 14,200' (Abra Malaga) on the most beautiful road I've ever seen, then throwing me back down the road on a bike traveling at speeds that would feel far too uncomfortable for most. Needless to say, I arrived in Ollantaytambo with a bang that day. I had a grip of new adventures ahead of me and was ready to hit them with all my might...after 20 hours of sleep, of course.
I recently (January 27th) wrote an email to family and friends, depicted the days following. In the sense of saving time and carpal tunnel prevention, here it is:
Hola family! It's been one hell of an adventure! Today itself was jam-packed. Guided my first bike trip. It was quite the experience. The Inca road gives sight to the most beautiful images I've seen in my life (aside from my mama and Ashley). Cloud fed waterfalls (by the hundreds), traditional high-altitude villages/families, and new ruins being discovered constantly. I'm seeing it all, as part of my job! Afterwards I stopped to get lunch in a homely little place. No menu. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted with the most delicious bowl of soup I've ever had. That's saying a lot coming from a soup person! Potatoes and a wonderful Peruvian mint called "moonya" are used here in a way that I never even imagined. The soup was followed by a delicious alpaca entree and a tart dessert. The bill was a whopping 5 nuevo soles (about $2). They wouldn't accept a tip and called me Tom Cruise haha. I made a Mission Impossible cliffhanger pose for them :) Afterwards, I went back to my room to rest and recover, but nope! KB (my boss) already had my bike loaded into the combi. I had 10 minutes to get ready to go on a rarely ridden downhill almost an hour away! The ride...breathtaking. I can't wait to see the video footage because I'm pretty sure I was looking at the mountains more than I was the trail. That's what makes a ride for me though. I can get my adrenaline pumping in Boise, Tahoe, Moab, etc... but rarely do I find moments of grandeur and solitude that make me actually think about hitting the brakes and taking a look around. After the ride, we decided to take another combi about an hour further to Cusco. Simply to get a pizza (pizza may sound silly, but they make a mean pizza) and beer. Why? Because you can here in Peru. Time is not stressed and money is...idk, haven't figured that out yet. We're now exhausted and posted up in a hostel for the night. That may surprise you since we have a 9am, 5-person, tour tomorrow that starts in Ollantaytambo, which is almost 2 hours away. Oh well though, 6:30am start is well worth the night views in Cusco!
The Inca Road winding back and forth across the canyon. Ollantaytambo seated at the bottom. Abra Malaga and Mount Veronica majestically overlooking the top.
First day guiding the Inca Road. It's was quite the rainy day, but even the wetness couldn't take away from the beauty.
Absolutely amazing soup! Made from quinoa, potatoes, moonya, cilantro, pumpkin, and sweet potatoe.
This is pretty much how I get around on a daily basis. I throw my bike in the back of a combi (taxi), hand him a few soles, and I'm off!
The beautiful night scenes of Cuzco. Built on a hillside, you can look up the valley to view a sea of tungsten light.
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