My Trip is coming to an end and although I am going to be happy to come home I will miss Peru. Particularly Cusco, I love it here. But I will tell you all about Cusco latter. First, Chota and the Blue Poncho Lodge. And of course, the other volunteers.
Henry stopped in Cajamaraca for a few hours before headign straight to Chota about five days before the rest of us did. That was Tuesday I beilive. Then on Wednesday Sue and Chenelle arrived. But, nobody bothered to tell them that the program had been changed a little. Instead of two weeks in Chota we were to spend only one. They did´nt mind in the end but of course they where a little cheesed about not being told. In the end we had a few fun days hanging out together in Cajamaraca. Did some sight seeing and drink testing. Ha Ha. Our last day in Cajamaraca we bought some wine, munchies and monopoly game. They all came in super handy.
The bus ride from Cajamaraca to Chota was frightening, to say the least, and it took eight hours instead of the said six that we were told. I had some crocheting to keep me busy but I still noticed the shear drop offs and the tiny roads. There where these big trucks that were filled with people and livestock. It was teriffying to watch them drive so close to the edges and wiz around corners.
When we finaly arrived to Chota we had to take a taxi for 45minutes up a crazy bumpy winding mountain road. We where so glad to get out. Not so glad to have to walk up a speep hill in the dark with all our luggage and step in cow pooh. But we got there, we opened wine and all was well afterwards.
Monday we split up to plant trees in differnet locations. Sue probably had the poorest family. She had a single mom with three boys. The ladies husband had passed away a few years ago and didnt leave her with anything. She has a little shack of a house and a small amount of land. I didn´t get to meet her but Sue told us a bit about her. Chenelle´s family was a couple with one little boy. They lived in a tiny little sod hut but are in the prosses of building a bigger sod hut when we where there. My family was probably the best off but still very poor. They were so gratful for everything. It was so touching. I gave the two little boys some toys and they seemed to enjoy them. Oh, and I found a four-leafed clover on the way home!
The best part of the day was going back to the lodge and haveing an amazing lunch made by Celia, the lodge mum, who is an absoulutly amazing cook. She was probably my favorite part of that week. A truly kind and amazing person. And a genius in the kitchen! I am looking forward to trying some of the stuff she showed me.
Tuesday Sue had to sit out because on her way home on Monday a strange bug bit her and her leg had a huge 3.5 inch diameter swollen bite on it. It did get better but it was huge and hurt her quite alot. So, Chenelle and I attacted the tree planting situation. The first place we stopped had three boys who where so excited about helping. They followed us and picked up plastic and let us show them how to plant the trees themselves. One little boy even followed us and helped out at the neighbours place for a while. It took us the better part of the morning to plant all the trees at all three places. Some trees I am a little concerned might not live because of the conditions they where planted in, but space became an issue after a while.
Wednesday Sue went back to the same home to begin the first stage of the stove. Chenelle and I went together, first to the family I planted at on Monday. When we had finished the first stage the family made us a meal of boiled potatos, cheese and coffee. It was actually pretty good. Just as we left the father handed me a sack with something in it. Then the sack moved and make squeaking noices! I shrieked. Everyone laughed at me exept the horrified Chenelle who knew what I now knew. There where Guinipigs in the sack. The same guinipigs we had just taken photos of and had said, "oh, they are so cute." They gave them to us to eat. I carried the sac the whole 45minute walk back to the lodge and psychologically prepared myself for what would show up on my plate in the next day or two. I found another clover on the way back and we took pictures holding our guinipigs. Me with my clover in my teeth. Sound like a nice pic but I am beat red and making a freaked out face. Ha Ha.
I will put up pictures and explain the whole building proccess when I get home.
After a fantastic meal made by Celia we went to the family who is building their new sod home. It was easy to work there because only the frame was up for the kitchen house.(Many families have a seperate shed like thing for their kitchen)It rained on us a little but they put a makeshift roof up and we were just fine. When we finished the first stage and were about to leave they mother of the family aked us to wait a minute. She ran to her sisters place and came back with two guinipigs. No sac. She handed us each on and mine started squirming. Again, I shreiked and got lauged at, this time Chenelle laughed too though. They found a sac and Chenelle did carrying home this time.
That night we had one escape when we where feeding them and four of us chased it around until Chenelle took a heroic dive and caught him. It was pretty funny stuff.
Thursday we finished the stove at the first family and where given anther meal of potatos and this time these yummy little bisket things, Which I think I have learnt how to make. Afterwards we were given chickens with thier feet tied to take back. I named mine Howard and Chenelle named her´s Chicken Little. We ate them later in the week and they were very good. Celia managed to get two delicious dishes out of them.
I found anothe four-leafed clover on the way back. When we arrived for lunch there where plates with of peices meat the resembeld chicken. It was not chicken. It was our four furry friends. I got over it prett yquick. They taste really good. I know, but don´t worry. I am not going to start grocery shopping at the pet store when I get home.
Henry came with us to finish the last stove. We had a lot of fun with that one. When we finished the family had us write our names in the concrete. We also put a hand print of their five-year-old son in it too. It was pretty cute.
That evening was spent like the rest. Drinking wine, pisco or sangreea while playing Uno or Monopoly. Or sitting on the porch the lodge with Someone fiddling with the guitar or listening to music on my iPhone. It was a very relaxing time all around in the evenings. I will miss the other volunteers and Celia very much.
Friday was our chill day. We read and wrote letters while sitting in the sun. Then Celia took us for a walk up the mountain. I found yet another-four-leafed clover just as we started our walk and both Sue and Celia found one a little later.
After dinner we went to see a lady who does weaving. It was pretty neat, I will post pictures when I get home. Again we drank wine and played games. Ceila joined us as she sometimes did. It was a perfect mellow last night.
We had to catch our taxi at the bottom of the hill at 7:00am to arrive in the city to catch our grewling long bus ride back. I had a little more crocheting to keep me busy but I ran out of yarn and had to rely on my iPod to keep me from going insane.
We checked into our hostel, showered up and had our last night out together. It was very nice, but we all had a good headache in the morning.
The next morning I flew out to Cusco. I got more and more excited the closer I got. Alison was waiting for me at the airport and had even booked me into a hostel for the night. What a sweet heart hey? I will have to tell you guys about Cusco later. I need to go shoppin gfor a few things for the inka treck tomorrow. Oh and I have to tell you all about Puno and lake Titicaca too!
Chow for now.
