Enjoying the Sacred Valley of the Incas

The next day after arriving in Cusco, Peru, my classmates and I went to see what was beyond the mountains near the hotel. At 8:15 in the morning we were all walking towards the bus to see the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Classmates, professors & I at the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Between being awake and asleep and sitting on the bus, we enjoyed the beautiful view of the valley. The valley is composed of numerous rivers, which descend through canyons, numerous archaeological monuments and indigenous peoples.

A traditional Quechua woman dressed with her llama & I.

During the twists and turns of the road we saw traditional Quechua women dressed with llamas, animals and camelid species of South America. We were curious to see this part of the culture so we decided to stop and take pictures. The only thing was that the photos were not free.

Disfrutando por el Valle Sagrado de los Incas

Al día siguiente de llegar a Cusco, Perú, mis compañeros de clase y yo fuimos a ver más allá de las montañas cercanas al hotel. A las 8:15 de la mañana ya estábamos todos caminando rumbo al autobús para conocer el Valle Sagrado de los Incas.

Mis compañeros, los profesores y yo en el Valle Sagrado de los Incas.

Entre despiertos y dormidos, ya sentados en el autobús pudimos disfrutar de la hermosa vista de este valle. El valle está compuesto por numerosos ríos que descienden por quebradas, numerosos monumentos arqueológicos y pueblos indígenas.

Una mujer Quechua vestida tradicionalmente con su llama & yo.

Durante el camino de curvas y curvas, vimos a mujeres Quechua vestidas tradicionalmente, con una llama, animal, especie de camélido de América del Sur. Nos dio curiosidad ver esta parte de la cultura entonces decidimos pararnos y tomarnos fotos. Eso si las fotos no eran gratis. Este es el trabajo de estas mujeres, de esta manera es que ellas viven. Si alguien quiere una foto tiene que pagarles, algunas piden una cantidad de dinero en específico y otras se conforman con lo que los turistas puedan darle.

Each souvenir has a meaning

One day in the afternoon, I went to the Indian Market on 5312 Ave. Petit Thouars in Miraflores, Lima to buy souvenirs for my family.

Indian Market. Photo by Sylvia Obén

While walking through the kiosks I saw gloves, socks, hats, shirts and pants made of Alpaca. I also saw Handicrafts, leather sandals, typical candies of Peru, silver jewelry and/or huayruro (stones that symbolize good luck and attracts fortune). People could also find tequila shot glasses, key chains, wallets, purses, pens and pipes representing Peru. I also could not miss the sale of Peruvian music discs and instruments.

Cada souvenir tiene su significado

Un día en la tarde fui al Indian Market en la Ave. Petit Thouars núm. 5312 en Miraflores, Lima para comprar souvenir para mi familia.

Indian Market. Foto por Sylvia Obén

Caminando entre kioskos vi guantes, medias, sombreros, camisas y pantalones hecho de Alpaca. Artesanías, sandalias de cuero, dulces típicos del Perú, joyería de plata y/ó huayruro (piedras que simbolizan la Buena suerte y atrae fortuna). También se podían encontrar vasos tequileros, llaveros, billeteras, monederos, bolígrafos y pipas que representaban Perú. No podía faltar la venta de la discos de música peruana y de instrumentos.

Journalists can overcome any obstacle

During my trip to Peru I had the opportunity to visit El Comercio, the country’s largest newspaper, where an average of 100 thousand copies are printed daily. I found it interesting to see how a newspaper that was founded 175 years ago works.

News Editor at El Comercio, Fritz Du Bois talking to Columbia College Chicago students.

However, it was more interesting to have met the news editor at the journal, Fritz Du Bois. I didn’t know what had happened to his right arm but I knew that Du Bois was a person to admire.

An editor with out an arm?

Periodista puede superar cualquier obstáculo

Durante mi viaje a Perú tuve la oportunidad de visitar El Comercio, diario más importante del país dónde un promedio de 100 mil ejemplares son impresos diariamente. Me pareció interesante ver cómo funciona un periódico que fue fundado hace 175 años.

Director Periodístico de El Comercio, Fritz Du Bois hablándole a los estudiantes de Columbia College Chicago.

Sin embargo, fue mucho más interesante conocer al director periodístico de este Diario, Fritz Du Bois. Sin saber lo que le sucedió en su brazo derecho, sé que Du Bois es una persona de admirar.

 ¿Un editor sin un brazo?

My first impression when I arrived to Cusco

“Wow! Look at the wonders of the world,” I said to myself as soon as I got to the city of Cusco.

After not being able to sleep for eight hours during the 11 days I spent in Miraflores, Lima, on Jan. 15 at 8:35 a.m. I got on a Cusco StarPerú Airline plane.

Discovering the wonders of Peru.

at the wonders of the world

During the flight, the flight attendants gave me a box with snacks. When I opened it there was a chocolate cake and a croissant with ham and cheese inside, it was a rich and unexpected snack. I asked for an Inka Cola to drink, which is a soft drink originating from Peru. During my days in Miraflores I had not tried it and I could not leave Perú without tasting it.

WATCH VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHwcHzCoqek&feature=youtu.be

Mi primera impresión al llegar a Cusco

Cusco, una de las maravillas de Perú.

“¡Con las maravillas que cuenta el mundo!”, me dije al llegar a la ciudad de Cusco.

Sin dormir ocho horas diarias, durante mis 11 días en Miraflores, Lima y con hambre, el 15 de enero a las 8:35 de la mañana salí en un avión de la aerolínea StarPerú para Cusco. Durante el vuelo las aeromozas me dieron una caja de merienda. Cuando la abrí tenía una tarta de chocolate y un croissant con jamón y queso, una merienda rica e inesperada. Para tomar pedí Inka Cola, bebida gaseosa originaria del Perú, ya que durante los días que había estado en Miraflores no la había probado y no me podía ir sin hacerlo.

MIRE EL VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHwcHzCoqek&feature=youtu.be

DIFFICULTIES OF NOT HAVING A VOLTAGE CONVERTER

During my preparation to go to Peru, my professor, Elio Leturia, commented on the class Facebook page that the voltage in Peru is 220 Volts, unlike in Puerto Rico and the United States where it is 110 Volts.

Voltage Converter, 220 Volts. Photo by Sylvia Obén

When I found out that using my hair dryer in Peru could damage it, I asked myself: should leave my hair curly or straight there?

I wanted to buy an adapter so I emailed the hotel La Castellana in Miraflores, Lima and they replied me saying that yes, the voltage in the bathrooms was 110 volts. So, I straightened my hair without any problem.

At that time, I just thought about my hair. I never thought to charge my computer, my phone or my camera battery.

Sighing with a dessert

During my trip to Peru I attended a cooking class with the intention of writing one of my three articles. Not only did I take pictures and videos, I also learned about the Peruvian cuisine and its history .

Suspiro de limeña. Photo by Sylvia Obén

Desserts have always been my weakness and the dessert Lima Sigh of Lima is one of biggest weaknesses. A literal translation of the name is “Limean (from Lima) woman’s Sigh.” Like Limean I sighed, I had not eaten half the cake and it was already sweetened. I can’t deny that this eventually became my favorite place in Peru .