Mi Vida en Viña: August 2012

Changing countries, universities, languages, etc. can be a little uncomfortable (some days more than others). Chile is teaching me how to be at peace and live in an environment that is not necessarily the most immediately comfortable.

I was thinking about that today as I was catching up on some reading. (What else do you do when the forecast is rain with a high of 50?) I ran across a quote from one of my old teachers, Dr. Krauss, who said, “Being uncomfortable is a good thing, because it forces you to reassess your place in the cosmos. Being too comfortable means you’ve become complacent and you stop thinking. And so being uncomfortable should be a spiritually uplifting experience."

So, here's to being uncomfortable, to being a little crazy and taking risks. Here's to reassessing our place in the universe and in our neighborhoods, to thinking and acting, to discovering what exists around us and within us.

I wondered if I could ever like Latin America more than I did before winter break but, after spending almost two weeks in Peru, I realized the my fondness for the Americas continues to grow.

Peru was an incredibly beautiful country. Rich in both Incan and Hispanic history, Peruvian museums, churches, and Incan sites provided the perfect travelling haven for my inner historian. The country's geography provided an outstanding background for the travels. I super thankful for the time I was able to spend there. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I will stop rambling and let the photos speak for themselves...

This was one of the first plants to greet me when I arrived in Arequipa...

While I was there I visited the one of a kind-El Monasterio de Santa Catalina de Siena.

At night, the city lit up and music could be heard in all corners of the streets.

I made it outside the city for a bit and the surrounding areas were stunning. The city also is the home of the "Incan Ice Maiden", who I was able to see. Eek!

Next, I moved onto Cusco. Below is a picture of the main plaza. This city is a fascinating collision of the Incan and Hispanic histories.

Peruvian kids were adorable.

Incan ruins are everywhere. This site was a storage fortress names Puka Pukara.

Afterwards, I began the treck towards Machu Picchu...

The scenery was breath taking.

We spent the night camping amongst Incan ruins in the Sacred Valley.

And then finally made it Machu Picchu!!!

My childhood dream was to visit this site.

I never imagined it would be so huge!

I hiked up Huayna Picchu with a friend. Machu Picchu looked so tiny from up above. (P.S. I did rock the ASU shirt there and saw a fellow Sun Devil. Of course, when I saw my fellow Sun Devil, I screamed, "Arizona State," across the Incan ruins. Once a Sun Devil, always a Sun Devil!)