So hello everyone. Here´s what up with my adventures in Peru. First off. I have to say this place is magic and intense. I am living my own personal Celestine Prophecy. For those who know the mystical side of me – all I can say is the spiritual part of this journey is so incredible I cant hardly put it into words to myself. I could write a novel – if I can get it into words without sounding like a raving lunatic I might.

It is really hard to describe all the things I have seen and the people I have met. I am hoping to launch photos next week so you can understand a bit of what I am experiencing. This place moved me to tears so many times the first two days.

The cities are depressing. Lima is a crumbling dustbowl. Cusco is beautiful on the outskirts but the city beyond the beaten path is crumbling and dank. The poverty is heartbreaking at times. I have seen filthy elderly people who dont say anything. They just sit or stand against walls with their hands silently extended. Not like the junkies from home. These people are truly poor. I have seen small children working the streets selling postcards, puppets, songs, and dances, from morning until late at night. I wish I was rich so I could do something. I want to give this whole country a big hug.

On the other hand, the people who live there are so friendly. Everyone wants to talk. Even if they dont feel conversational, they will still often greet you with a buenos dias/tardes/noches. Everyone makes eye contact and smiles.

Of course I have had some strange food. I had the best fresh fruit salad today. Alpacha tastes like pork. Cuy (guinea pig)  taste like…well…it is hard to say what cuy tastes like. It looked like a skinned rat and seemed to be mostly greasy skin. Peruvians seem to really like it – and there is a huge painting showing that Jesus ate cuy for his last supper. I have been a bit daring with what I have put in my mouth at times. Every night I go to bed thanking god that I still dont have to pull out the Imodium.

On another note. Cusco traffic is really something.  Most streets are one lane wide, but often you will find cars going both directions. I haven’t seen too many intersections with lights on them. Actually, I saw one. More magic in play here. In some places the roads are about 12 ft wide and the sidewalks are about 1-2 ft wide.

Peruvians have a love affair with their car horns I have no idea why they are honking half the time. Perhaps it sends a vibration from the horn to their privates. Incidentally I havent seen a woman driving yet…

Peruvians also have a love affair with graffiti. Instead of election signs, they have graffiti all over the walls and fences. Its election time so the streets are filled with these mickey mouse parades.

CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO SHOWING WHY PERUVIANS SHOULDNT BE ALLOWED TO HAVE MARCHING BANDS

I was having dinner with this guy from the UK as they were going around the Plaza de Armas. We couldn’t believe how in our respective countries, little more than half the country ever makes it to the polls – yet in Peru there is way more faith in the power of voting. This town will shut down on the 9th while 95% of Peru will turn out to vote from 100 presidential candidates … and chances of their lives changing are zero to nill. Go figure. With the millions of tourist dollars that float through this country, I would sure like to see where it goes. Definitely not into schools, roads or social programs. These folks have nothing.

Outside the cities, I have seen some of the most spectacular and awe inspiring scenery. Its reminiscent of the road to Tofino, but the different variations and shades of green are SO intense. Then toss in the oddity of cacti and plants that we would buy in a grocery store and cultivate in pots. Its very cool. Im looking forward to my trip into the jungle next week. Should be cool.

Some of the ruins are amazing. You have to do some grueling hikes (the thin air makes it even harder) to get to them, but once you are there its spectacular. Very few parts are cordoned off. If anything is restricted, its fountains and altars but I understand why. When one looks at these stones and sees where these stones came from it is absolutely incredible what ancient man pulled off without modern tools…

Well. It is almost 9pm right now but feels like 11pm. It gets dark around 6pm here. Its almost winter for them. Ive been waking up at 5-6 am in the morning since I arrived in the Andes.

Tomorrow I leave for my trek to Machu Piccu, but I want to catch the sunrise over Ollataytombo. I have a feeling it will lead to spectacular photos…