Friday, September 26, 2008
Attemping some pictures for you!
I have been trying to upload some pictures for this blog, but it seems to not want to cooperate, I have successfully posted pictures on an album with Facebook, just look for me with my a_la_france@hotmail.com email address!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
mmmmm. Cuy.
Guinea pig- a pet or dinner? You decide. I have yet to try this Peruvian delicacy but I may have to indulge just for culinary curiosity.
So where in South America is Amanda today? For the past 2 weeks I have been living in mi casa in the San Blas area of Cusco, Peru. I only lasted 2 days in Lima b/c it was gray, dreary and a bit overwelming. (Think NYC in the midst of November). I did get to go a Peru v Argentina futbol game and it was INCREDIBLE! Everyone went home happy as the Peruvian team scored to tie in the last 10 seconds. My favorite part was watching the players I have only viewed on TV up close.
I decided to enroll in Spanish classes as I realized I wasn't going to get very far with my Spanglish from the restaurant. After even just a week I am feeling more confident that I still have French stuck in my head after all these years and that answering people first in English, then French and then finally converting to Spanish will prove a valuable mental exercise! And when that doesn't work I just write things down (abeit being the visual/kinentic learning that I am.)
So when not in escuela, I have been exploring various Inka ruins around the area. Last weekend I went with a few of my Holland friend to Chincero, Moray, Maras, Pisaq, and Ollanytantambo. All of them were absolutely amazing all in their own way. Where Ollanytantambo and Pisaq were grand in size and stature, Moray was a work of agricultural ingenuity. (And yes I took lots of pictures but they are film so all of you have to wait!)
On Saturday I head up to Ollanytantambo again to spend the night before getting up at 4:30am to catch the train to Machu Picchu. There are so many vistors to the area these days that it is a dash in the morning to get there before everyone else. In fact there is another part of the ruin that only allows 400 people to it a day!
Alright everyone, I hope all of you are doing well, I think it's time for some tasty cuy... or maybe llama...mmmmm.
So where in South America is Amanda today? For the past 2 weeks I have been living in mi casa in the San Blas area of Cusco, Peru. I only lasted 2 days in Lima b/c it was gray, dreary and a bit overwelming. (Think NYC in the midst of November). I did get to go a Peru v Argentina futbol game and it was INCREDIBLE! Everyone went home happy as the Peruvian team scored to tie in the last 10 seconds. My favorite part was watching the players I have only viewed on TV up close.
I decided to enroll in Spanish classes as I realized I wasn't going to get very far with my Spanglish from the restaurant. After even just a week I am feeling more confident that I still have French stuck in my head after all these years and that answering people first in English, then French and then finally converting to Spanish will prove a valuable mental exercise! And when that doesn't work I just write things down (abeit being the visual/kinentic learning that I am.)
So when not in escuela, I have been exploring various Inka ruins around the area. Last weekend I went with a few of my Holland friend to Chincero, Moray, Maras, Pisaq, and Ollanytantambo. All of them were absolutely amazing all in their own way. Where Ollanytantambo and Pisaq were grand in size and stature, Moray was a work of agricultural ingenuity. (And yes I took lots of pictures but they are film so all of you have to wait!)
On Saturday I head up to Ollanytantambo again to spend the night before getting up at 4:30am to catch the train to Machu Picchu. There are so many vistors to the area these days that it is a dash in the morning to get there before everyone else. In fact there is another part of the ruin that only allows 400 people to it a day!
Alright everyone, I hope all of you are doing well, I think it's time for some tasty cuy... or maybe llama...mmmmm.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
And so it begins...
Hello everyone,
First off I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, to all of you that came out for the WalkAbout send off party before I left for MN. It was wonderful to share one last debaucherous evening with all y'all!
Secondly, I sit here on my flight to Lima with a heavy and very sad heart. My friend (and for some of you, your's too) Christopher Fucile was killed on Sunday in a car accident. For those that know him and those that missed out, Chris was a very funny, sweet, charismatic, and albiet loud-mouthed gregarious man with a heart of gold. He will be greatly missed in my family.
So really at the moment I feel a bit lost in my head as I begin this journey to South America. If there is one most important lesson to start off with is a poignant reminder that life is so fragile and special- that to miss this opportunity to be present in one's life and all the special gifts we are given, is to really sell our potential short. Live life to the fullest everyone, make it count.
Adios amigos o amigas,
Amanda
First off I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, to all of you that came out for the WalkAbout send off party before I left for MN. It was wonderful to share one last debaucherous evening with all y'all!
Secondly, I sit here on my flight to Lima with a heavy and very sad heart. My friend (and for some of you, your's too) Christopher Fucile was killed on Sunday in a car accident. For those that know him and those that missed out, Chris was a very funny, sweet, charismatic, and albiet loud-mouthed gregarious man with a heart of gold. He will be greatly missed in my family.
So really at the moment I feel a bit lost in my head as I begin this journey to South America. If there is one most important lesson to start off with is a poignant reminder that life is so fragile and special- that to miss this opportunity to be present in one's life and all the special gifts we are given, is to really sell our potential short. Live life to the fullest everyone, make it count.
Adios amigos o amigas,
Amanda
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