NS Trip to Peru

Canadian Embassy

2007-05-12T00:35:00.000-07:00

On our last full day in Lima before coming home, we were invited to the Canadian Embassy where we spent an hour with Canada's Ambassador to Peru, Geneviève des Rivières. She was interested in hearing about our experiences, and shared some of her own perceptions of the country. We did a brief performance for her and her staff before leaving - it was our last performance together before the final one at grad!

In the Jungle!

2007-05-08T21:34:00.000-07:00

We left Machu Picchu on Friday and returned to the city of Cuzco that night. At 3:30 the next morning, we got up and boarded a bus that would take us on a 12-hour journey across the Andes to the eastern part of Peru - into the Amazon lowlands.
It was a trip that none of us will ever forget: the bus crawled its way along narrow roads that clung to the edge of mountains all the way, and at very high altitudes. The last part of the trip was by boat, up a big river. We were accompanied by a couple of excellent guides who worked for the Manu Learning Centre, a new education and research centre in a remote part of the jungle area. This is where we stayed for three night, in the full heat of the tropical rainforest.

While we were there, we had some extraordinary cross-cultural exchanges with indigenous peoples from that area. It was fascinating. They have only had contact with outsiders since 1948, and one of the elders in their group recounted in detail what those first experiences were like for the people involved. They showed us how they make their clothing and hunting tools, and let us try their bows and arrows, which they still use for hunting fish, birds, and big game in the dense forest. They also showed us their fishing techniques down at the river.

We shared our culture with them and they were very interested in learning about how Inuit hunt, among other things. Apparently, our visit had a big impact on these people because their experience of outsiders has never been very positive, and we were told that it was the first time they met outsiders who actually showed respect for their culture. they were quite moved by the experience, and showed it with a very generous gifting ceremony where they gave each of us special gifts such as their bows and arrows, neclaces made with jaguar teeth, and articles of their clothing. It was a powerful encounter that will have lasting impacts on everyone involved.

Machu picchu

2007-05-03T17:46:00.000-07:00

Today was the day we had been dreaming about ever since we chose Peru as our trip destination this year: we visited the ancient Inca city of Machupicchu, high in the Andes mountains. Words cannot describe the beauty we experienced today, or the evidence we saw of a culture that was mind-blowing in its capabilities.

Our day began very, very early - at 4:00 am precisely - back in Cuzco. We had to get up that early to catch the train that would take us to Machupicchu, a four hour train ride. The scenery was spectacular along the way, as the train wound through narrow mountain valleys. Snow-capped mountains soon appeared.

We got to the community nearest Machupicchu about 10:00 am and booked into a hostel that feels more like a resort. By noon we had arranged our admission tickets to the historic site, and boarded buses which took us back and forth up the side of the mountain for mile after mile until we came to the ancient site.

It was a day of incredible beauty. The ancient city sits atop a small mountain, surrounded by many other mountains. The ruins show how eleborate a society the Inca had developed, and the fact that they had built such cities in such impossible places speaks of both their techology and their work ethic! Just amazing!

The memory of this day will remain with us for the rest of our lives.

Cuzco!

2007-05-02T18:06:00.000-07:00

After riding a bus back to Lima on Monday night, we arrived in the morning and went to the airport to catch our plane to Cuzco. It was only an hour´s flight to this city which is the ancient capital of the Inca empire. Rich in both Inca and Spanish colonial history and culture, it is also high above sea level - approx. 11,000 ft above sea level, and we all quickly felt the effects of being at such a high altitude. The air was thin and the sun was very bright. Some of us felt light-headed and even nauseous at times, but all in all, we survived well. A bus took us to our hostel as soon as we arrived and we spent the day getting ourselves acclimatized to the city, and to the elevation.
On Wednesday, our hosts arranged for us to visit a local school that was quite remarkable. It was set on the side of a small valley, with modern buildings and a working farm which the students had to tend. Our group put on an excellent cultural performance for about an hour, and then we were given a tour of the campus. It was very impressive! The rest of the day was spent shopping!

Fond farewells

2007-05-02T17:51:00.000-07:00

Monday was our last day in Ayacucho. We didn´t have any activities planned in the morning so we got to sleep in for a change. In the afternoon, the local youth group came and got us and walked us over to their craft centre where they showed us how to make paper out of recycled paper, to carve stone, and to make cyramic crafts. It was very interesting.
We finished the day by giving them a performance of drumming, singing, throat singing and Inuit games. Finally, there was a big exchange of gifts: we gave them a Nunavut flag, an NS t-shirt, some books about Nunavut, and a cash donation for their organization. They, in turn, gave us a beautiful sculpture as well as other small gifts. It was a very emotional goodbye, with lots of photos, hugs, and tears. They were wonderful people, and marvellous hosts.
They were such wonderful hosts, in fact, that when we were at the bus station later that evening for our overnight trip back to Lima, they all showed up with their musical instruments and performed a goodbye song for us in the middle of the station! The song turned into one big dance involving everyone, followed by more hugs and more tears of farewell. We will never forget them!!

Marriage proposals!

2007-05-02T15:33:00.000-07:00

After spending the morning of Day 4 at the memorial lookout, the local youth took us to a compound that was tucked away in the forest for a lunch of traditional foods. The main course was guinea pig, which turned out to be pretty bony. The dish came with the head, eyes, and even whiskers, all cooked.

We ended up spending all afternoon there and we had a great time, sharing games, learning each other's´languages, songs and dances.

At one point, one of the guys in the host group learned how to propose in English, and so a mock ceremony was performed for him and Kerri to be married.

Incredible scenery!

2007-04-30T15:12:00.000-07:00

On our second day in Ayacucho, the local youth group led us on an expedition to a site high up in the mountains about an hour out of the city. The drive took us along the edge of many mountains, so the views were spectacular (and a little scary at times).

When we got there, it was a wide mountain meadow on the site where Peruvians fought a decisive battle against the Spaniards in the 1800s. A huge monument towered over the location, which overlooked mountains and valleys as far as you could see. It was 10,000 ft. above sea level, so a few of us felt the first effects of the high altitude (including sunburns). We spent the morning at this site, playing soccer and other games together, trading songs and dances, and for a few of us, horseback riding up into the hills.

Ayacucho

2007-04-30T15:04:00.000-07:00

At the end of our first day in Peru, we boarded a double-decker "sleeper" bus and rode overnight up into the mountains. When dawn broke, we had arrived in Ayacucho, a city of about 100,000, nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains. It was beautiful. In addition, we lucked out by getting a really nice hotel for our three-day stay (instead of a hostel). Even still, it was still relatively inexpensive, as is everything here in Peru. Here´s Jeela Manniapik looking out over the city from the hotel´s balcony. Here´s Jeela Manniapik of Pangnirtung looking out over the city from the hotel´s balcony.

After settling in, we were met by the local indigenous youth group who it turns out had planned three days worth of activities with us. They began by taking us to a local museum, then to a weaving centre run by local women, and finally to a stone carver´s shop.

In the evening, the local group took us out for dancing and kareoke. It was a great start to our stay!

Tasting the Pacific Ocean!

2007-04-30T14:51:00.000-07:00

We spent our first full day in Peru in Lima. We began with a visit to the Canadian embassy where officials gave us a briefing on the country. We spent the rest of the day walking around and exploring the city, ending up at the oceanfront where a bunch of us played in the big surf and got soaking wet. Still, it was worth it to say we did it!

We´ve Arrived!

2007-04-30T14:45:00.000-07:00

It took about 17 hours to fly from Ottawa to Newark, N.J. and then on to Lima, but it was worth it! We arrived at about 10:30 pm and were picked up by a bus that had been arranged by our hostel.
Our first impressions of Lima? Cars, cars, cars, and fumes, fumes, fumes! The traffic was crazy, especially around the airport, where a crush of cars and buses jockeyéd for position with no one giving in. A symphony of horns, all playing different notes. Still, we were all excited by it all!

Pain before Gain

2007-04-22T20:26:00.000-07:00

Going to Peru meant dealing with health risks, so we dropped about $4,500.00 on shots for Yellow Fever and Hepatitis A, plus pills for malaria.

Here, Allen Auksaq takes a hit from Dr. Lorne Weiner at an Ottawa travel clinic. We feel your pain, Allen! (Actually, he's from Igloolik, and we know everyone from there is a great actor :)

Getting Ready

2007-04-02T00:59:00.000-07:00

As part of our preparation, we were visited by a group of Latin American university students from Ottawa U. who came down to teach us some Spanish, and give us tips on how to have a successful trip.

Here, Dianne Iyago of Baker Lake receives a parting gift from Hernand, one of the Latin American students.

The NS Gang

2007-04-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

Fourth row L-R: Dennis Nakoolak (Iqaluit), Jeela Maniapik (Pangnirtung), Allen Auksaq (Igloolik), Dianne Iyago (Baker Lake), Pam Gross (Cambridge Bay/Hay River);

Third row L-R: MIshael Gordon (Iqaluit/Rankin Inlet), Petanie Pitsiulak (Kimmirut), Alex Ittimangnak (Kugaaruk), Ceporah Mearns (Pangnirtung); Anna Kakuktinniq (Rankin Inlet);

Second row L-R: Vicki Gibbons (Coral Harbour), Karen Flaherty (Iqaluit), Megan Pizzo-Lyall (Taloyoak), Sarah Jancke (Cambridge Bay);

Front row L-R: Sandi Vincent (Iqaluit), April Akeeagok (Grise Fiord/Iqaluit); Angela Nuliayok (Gjoa Haven), Kerri Tattuinee (Rankin Inlet).