Story of my journey to Peru 2007

Peru was actually not on my “list” of places in the world I wanted to visit. I’m drawn to places with art, culture and great food like Asia, Italy and France. Little was I prepared for what I experienced in Peru – ALL of those things! I was blown away by the amazing people of Peru: their charming faces, their humble smiles and downcast eyes, their love for their culture and heritage and pride in their country, their resilience in the face of hardship, and most of all their kindness and loving spirits. Never before have I been so immersed into a country I’ve visited, to feel the heart and soul of the people as I did on this journey. Please allow me to share my experiences with you.

My journey to Peru began in January 2007 when I met a lady at a seminar in Vancouver. Diana and I connected immediately because we both had similar visions – to take people on tours around the world. I want to teach people about photography and art, she wants to guide women on spiritual journeys. Peru actually wasn’t on my list of “must visit” places, but when an opportunity to go as her assistant and official photographer arose, it was too good to pass up. I was about to learn how different this trip would be from your regular tourist vacations, and for that I’m SO glad.

Red Lotus Tours logo


Prior to even leaving Canada, we were told about a charity we would be working with and how badly they needed funds and school supplies for kids. I began soliciting all my family and friends for money and donations, and I was able to raise about $900. With some of that money I bought as many scribblers and note pads as I could fit into a duffle bag to drag along with me.

This quote was displayed onscreen on my plane to Lima: “The world is a book. Those that do not travel read only one page” – Saint Augustine. I think I read a whole chapter just in Peru and it makes me want to read more.

We started the trip off in Lima, a rag tag group of 8 “gringo” women and our guide Washington. Washi, as we called him is a local Peruvian, and was a constant source of information about the culture of his people, how they live, and their beliefs. He is also very personable and charming and he loved to hug all of us ladies and called us “Pacha Mama’s children” meaning “mother earth’s children”. We fell in love with him immediately.

Next we flew to Cusco, set in the mountains at about 12,000 feet above sea level. It is a gorgeous city rich in culture, crafts, music, dance and Inca heritage. Many of the walls of the city are built on top of original Inca walls built over 500 years ago and more. It is there we started our spiritual journey by bonding with each other through exercises. We each wrote one intention we’d like to achieve during this trip. I wanted to open my heart wider to love more deeply and to connect with and have my “inner goddess” flourish and grow. We also wrote and then burned one thing we wanted to release and leave there. It was a great way to get to know each other.

Photo Cusco street scene

While in Cusco we visited 2 Inca ruin sites with our own personal Shaman Jesus. He took us to a newly discovered site, not even open to tourists yet and we participated in a circle ceremony inside a cave. He channelled an ancient spirit that spoke to him and said that he was an old man and was sad because many people come here and don’t understand that place, but that he was happy because we had come and we were respectful and understanding of his people. I personally had a feeling that I’d been there before – but not any old déjà vu feeling – one that I might have actually lived there in Inca times. It was a bit of a freaky experience, but totally connected me to the place even more.

Photo Inca wall, Cusco

One of our highlights in Cusco was having a picnic lunch, brought to us by Washi, in the forest outside one of the ruin sites. He then surprised us with an Andean pipe band, comprised of four brothers ages 12-19, which played in the Eucalyptus forest just for us. We built a fire, danced and were amazed by the talents and the passion of these young men.

Photo Andean pipe band, Cusco

Taking Spanish lessons and learning salsa dancing were also part of our immersion into Peru. The local people were so happy when I spoke to them in their language, I wanted to learn more and connect with them more deeply. I was so taken by the language that I’ve started taking Spanish lessons upon my return to Canada. Several nights of salsa dancing at local hangouts, not tourist bars, were exhausting but oh so much fun. We met a lady that is a competitive dancer who was fabulous, a national champion. But she’s having trouble getting a Visa to travel to the world competition. Travel is very hard for Peruvians outside their country, as many of them leave and don’t go back. Washi’s brother is also trying to get to the US to study English and the tour leaders are trying to sponsor him, with much difficulty. We learned about some political issues and boundaries that are not pleasant, not all the world is about love unfortunately. But I still believe in trying to help those that we can.

From Cusco we journeyed by van into the Sacred Valley and once again Washi did not disappoint. Lunch along side the road, overlooking an amazing vista – a large lake in front of us, Andes Mountains in the distance. We had more food than we could eat and soon we started attracting dogs and children hoping for a few scraps. Seeing the joy on their little faces as Washi lined them up and gave them each a granola bar and an orange was a pleasure I will not soon forget. I had noticed a sheepherder and her baby coming down the road and her dress was so colourful, her face so shy, I had to come closer for a photograph. She willingly obliged me, and I gave her a few soles (maybe a dollar) and my banana and half of my tangerine. She was so grateful and held my hand tightly for a long moment.

Photo Andean ladies carrying lunch to their husbands

Photo Andean Sheepherder, Sacred Valley

You cannot buy this kind of experience!

Comments
15 Responses to “Story of my journey to Peru 2007”
  1. Princessa says:

    Great pictures. I am so happy that you went to Peru and actually enjoyed your experience. Thanks for letting evrybody know about the beauty of my country.

    • Darlene says:

      Thanks Teri, have you seen the book I did on Peru? If you purchase it, the profits go to help the people there – who really need it right now with the flooding they’ve had there.

  2. Darlene says:

    Thank you so much. Yes I very much enjoyed my time in Peru and would love to visit you again. Where do you live in Peru? (de donde eres?) I’m taking Spanish still so I’m practicing. I can’t figure out how to make the upside down question mark on my keyboard yet though.

  3. Princessa says:

    Actually, I am not living in Peru at the moment. I do love travelling and for the past two years I have been living in France.
    I am originally from Lima, I was back there last year and it has change so much from my last trip… Keep up with the Spanish lessons and the salsa dancing!

  4. Wonderful pictures. ¡Felicitaciones!

  5. Tricia says:

    Beautiful pictures, you could see the people’s personalities in their faces. So charming and gracious. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us.

  6. I haven’t been to Peru since 1990. I did not go as a tourist and didn’t get to view the ruins. But I was so taken by the people there. I am especially impressed with their love of children and how welcoming they are.

    Your story makes my heart yearn for Peru. I recall the sadness of one of my last evenings there, strolling down a road and missing it even before I left.

    I understand that things have changed immensely since I was there. But it’s good to know that the people themselves have not changed.

  7. The women delivering lunch is exquisite!

  8. Darlene says:

    Thanks Lauri and thanks for visiting my blog. I’m thinking about entering that into competition along with the little boy in red, he’s just so adorable.

  9. Teri says:

    Beautifully done pictures and writing. So glad I found your blog address on your email signature. Your travel notes really motivate a desire to see that interesting country.

  10. Will says:

    Great post. I’m planning to go to Peru, too and volunteer there for a bit, possibly in Cuzco and around the same time (November to December or January to March) as you, but I’ve read from travel guides that the reining season is from Nov. to May and things can get really wet in the Andes. How was the weather like when you went there in January?
    Thanks!

    • Darlene says:

      Sorry Will but I actually have no idea. I was there in September not January. In my story is says my journey to Peru began in January of 2007 but that’s just when I met the lady that I ended going with, not when I actually travelled there. Sorry for the confusion. Good luck with your trip!

  11. Will says:

    Oh right, I misread your post. Thanks!

  12. Joshua Gabbai says:

    Very interresting. I am glad that you enjoyed. Many North Americans are not leaving the develloped World and don’t realise that they are so lucky where they leave. They have to see other places and try to unerstand, sympathise and for sure not patronize.

Leave A Comment

Popular incoming searches: photo travel tour cuba, photo travel tour central america

Categories

About Your Tutor

photography tutor in Edmonton

Born and raised in Edmonton, Darlene has had formal training in photography at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. She enjoys portraits, fine art, and travel photography. She is a seasoned traveler having spent time in Mexico, Singapore, Malaysia, Peru, Thailand, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Cuba and Australia. Darlene loves exotic locales, exotic food and experiencing different countries directly through the local people and the cultural arts. Her vision is to share her artistic talents through teaching “the art of seeing”, and to spread love and tolerance through the experience of truly connecting with and understanding people of different cultures.