TRAVEL DIARIES

Exploration Peru - April 2010
- by Bonnie Hinschberger

A man named Robert Manco, the greatest guide of all,
Was assigned to our ladies to show us the ancient Inca walls.

His knowledge was outstanding, and he always went the extra mile,
But what we loved the most was his enthusiastic smile.

From the streets of Miraflores he put us in the mood,
Then took us out for lunch for some tasty Peruvian Food.

At the Amazon Jungle on the Tambokata River,
Where the creatures and tarantulas sometimes made us quiver.

Elvis and Juan Carlos took such great care of us,
And told us that the caiman hunting was definitely a must.

Then on to Cusco city where the Incas use to live,
Roberta showed us his home town that had so much to give.

On to Sachawayman for an ancient Inca blessing,
Then a visit to Ccakaccollo for some weaving and Peruvian dressing.

The women were so happy to weave for us with pride,
For they had lost their looms and houses in a recent mudslide.

Roberto’s early wake up calls had our ladies ready to rally,
To follow the river Urubamba in the Inca Sacred Valley.

We saw the agricultural sites of Moray, or so our guide Al said,
Then on to Pisac burial ground where they mummified the dead.

A bit of time for shopping in the local Pisac town,
Before Roberto allowed us to lay our weary heads down.

Oh wait!  Robert said, you must come see the stars
And sit around the campfire singing songs and humming bars.

A local game of sapo in a little chichi house,
Had our ladies cheering to put the coin in the bronze toad’s mouth.

Our next stop was Ollantaytambo where we climbed the Inca site,
Then we stopped at Puka Rumy for a very quick bite.

We did not want to miss the train to take us to Machu Picchu,
So we had to ensure we arrived on time at kilometer 82.

Our train ride was spectacular but Roberto had a sleep,
While we watched the affects of the mudslides and the river flowing deep.

The next morning we would wake with excitement and surprise,
To be on the terraces of Machu Picchu to watch the sunrise.

The morning was so misty that we couldn’t see the site,
So we sat there very patiently and blew with all our might.

For we had come so far to see this magical place,
That we were so determined not to leave with a sad face.

The sun it did its job that day but burning off the mist,
And left us with a smile and we said “we did it” with our fists.

The day it was spectacular in oh so many ways,
That we’ll return with memories and photos to display.

The Incas were amazing “my friends” in fact incredible,
But they ate this thing called guinea pig, to us barely edible.

Now back to Cusco city to the children’s orphanage,
And then to pick up all the purchases that we left in the hotel storage.

Off to Lake Titicaca to live as the locals do,
Where we cooked and dined and danced with them and needed flashlights for the loo.

On the Isla of Amantani with our mama’s whom we met,
We ladies had a cultural experience that we soon will not forget.

We “Sunshine Ladies” have to thank the Inca Pacha Mama,
For we are so ever  grateful that we did not use umbrellas.

Silver shops, concerts, bakeries, traffic jams… Roberto we love you,
From the bottom of my heart “thank you” for sharing your great county of Peru!