Everybody go Surfin', Surfin' in Peru

After we left Lima, Sam and I spent the following week traveling a lot  on buses and being beach bums on the coast of northern Peru. One can get used to living on the beach and reading and relaxing all day!

Lovely Lima

Before we got to Lima, everyone we met was so negative about the city. "You don't need more than 2-3 days" "It's a big South American city" Over and over we heard how Lima just wasn't worth any of our time. So we took their advice and planned in only 2 nights in Lima. But boy were they wrong about Lima. What an awesome city!

Conquering Machu Picchu

The main reason there were so many gringos in Cuzco is of course the famous Inka temple of Machu Picchu. There are two ways to get there, the 4-day grueling trek or the beautiful 3-hour train ride. However, regardless of whether you get there smelly and exhausted or refreshed just having had quinoa salad Machu Picchu makes one hell of an impression. You're left wondering: how the hell did they build this damn thing here in the mountains??

Who Would've Thought I'd be Teaching in Spanish?

Sam and I just spent a week and a half in Cusco, Peru, during which we went to Machu Picchu and actually went on two pretty strenuous hikes (more about that later), took a Chocolate-making class, Sam took more Spanish classes, and I volunteered at an afterschool program (where, yes, I taught in Spanish) and took a traditional weaving class. It was an incredible time, and probably my favorite part of the trip.

Welcome to the Jungle

Despite our harrowing ride to and from Villa Carmen, we had a wonderful week volunteering here. We were excited to meet up with our new friend Nicole who we had met on our trip to the Salt Flats and volunteer coordinator at Villa Carmen. After spending the last 6 weeks or so in cities, it was nice to take a break and be one with nature and breathe some fresh air.

Us with Nicole

Our abode for the week and where we ate all our meals with the other folks

Bev and Sam's Wild Ride, or How We Survived Our Trip to the Jungle (Just Barely)

Sam and I just spent the last week volunteering at Villa Carmen, a nature reserve/biological station situated in Manu National Park in Peru, in the Amazonian region of the country. Now, spending a week in jungle sounds pretty adventurous, but little did we know that the biggest adventure would be our trip to and from the reserve.

Just a glimpse of what the ride was like.

How Amazing Are Peruvian Buses?

Ok, I can't speak for all "Peruvian buses", but one Peruvian bus company called "Cruz del Sur". We had met some people along the way that said, when you go to Peru take Cruz del Sur because it is a class above the rest. Man, this was like miles above any bus I've ever taken.