The Trek

So, I didn't just magically appear at Machu Picchu. I actually went on a 3 day trek that was the bomb! It was called the Inca Jungle Trek. Anyways, we took a bus to a very high altitude (14,160 feet) called Abra Malaga. 

A view from the bus. 

At this point everyone I our group hopped on bikes and we basically coasted down a steep, windy canyon for about 3 hours. So. Much. Fun! 

The group :)

Ayla and I at Mirador Carrizales. 

After we got off the bikes we had a delicious lunch and headed to the Urubamba River for a dang fun rafting trip. The rafting was about an hour. We had awesome guides, the weather was great, and the rapids were good. When we got done with the rapids we hiked up into the mountains outside Santa Maria where we stayed the night with an Incan family. 

All of us eating some dinner. 

The next day we headed out for a day of hiking. I loved it! We even got to hike a little on the Incan trail! 

McKenna, Leeza, and I on the Incan trail with our Incan warrior paint haha. 

Enjoying the views at one of the Incan messenger stops. 

Walking the suspension bridge. 

To finish off the day we enjoyed some hot springs just outside of Santa Teresa. They were very nice! It was kind of like Lava Hot Springs. 

McKenna, Elena, and I enjoying the springs. 

Friday morning we got to go zip lining! It was pretty darn fun. It only had five cables, but they were pretty long. 

The we got to finish off with this bridge! 

After the zip lining we headed out to do some more walking. This day was all fairly flat, but we walked quite a bit. 

Walking the tracks with Machu Picchu mountain in the background. We were so close! 

We finally arrived in Aguas Calientes where we enjoyed warm showers and some dinner. 

Luckily these legs aren't mine! The Mosquitos were pretty ruthless though. 

Chillin with Pachacutec. 

The next morning we headed up to Machu Picchu. 

This was a pretty watered down version of the trek, but let me tell ya, it was awesome! I had a great group and I was able to meet some amazing people. The weather was the best! We really lucked out. Our guide was awesome as well and he taught us so much about the Incans, the plants in the area, the people that live there now, and more. I couldn't have asked for a better trip! 

Sometimes dreams DO come true :)

  Around the age of 12 I found out what Machu Picchu was. Ever since then, it's been my dream to see it. Well, yesterday it happened!! 

  I woke up at 4:00 am to get ready to start trekking up the mountain from the town we were staying in, Aguas Calientes. We left the hostel at 4:30 and I arrived at the entrance gate at 5:45. The whole hike I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. I couldn't believe it was actually happening!! I was so close to Machu Picchu. So close to fufiling my dream! 

  When I was finally admitted into the ancient citadel, I was speechless. I mean, look at this view! 

I love how the clouds are just above the ruins. Breathtaking. 

I was able to take a tour of the city and learn a bunch of awesome things about the Incans and the city. I LOVE all of the history I have been able to learn. After the tour we were free to explore the city on our own. And explore I did! I'm pretty sure I went in about every room!! I just couldn't stop! 

This was a rock in the main square. Each point was exactly on with the compass (thus the phone...)

They used those three windows to tell the time of the year based on where the sun shone determined the solstice and the equinoxes. 

Ceremonial rock 

Entrance to the city. 

I was also had one of 400 tickets that day to hike Waynu Pichu Mountain. It was incredible! The hike up is steep and fairly rugged, but not too long. And the view? Absolutely amazing! 

(Waynu Picchu is the bigger mountain there in the background)

I was also able to make the short walk to see the Inca Bridge. The wood is no longer original, but the trail is. 

Right before I had to leave the city I basically ran up to the Sun Temple. It was cool to get that view of the city as well. 

When it came time for me I say goodbye to Machu Picchu I literally almost cried. I was not expecting to feel that way, but I was so sad my experience was ending. Luckily I have a million pictures, and the experiences in my mind. What an amazing day. 

My last look at Machu Picchu. Thanks for being everything I imagined and more!

"Livi's a lucky girl, is she"

  Last night after I turned out the light I stumbled around the obstacles of yet another foreign room. When my right foot hit the bed frame the thought all of a sudden came to my head, "Livi's a lucky girl, is she."  Tel kept saying this over and over after my car accident and it's stuck with me. I think about it often, but I hadn't yet here during my time in Cusco. How true it is! 

  As I lay in bed I thought about all of the things in my life this past week that went make me that "lucky girl."  First off, I'm living with an awesome family. They have just taken me in as one of their own since I arrived Saturday morning. They take me with them to the market, the doctor, the cell phone fixer, their cousin's house, their grandma's house, and they even took me with them to Saylla (a smaller town just outside of Cusco) where I ate my first plate of chicherone :) We also went out to dinner and a show with Ben and Emma. Ben and Emma lived here before and are some of my volunteer friends. They're great as well! Lucky girl. 

  I was staying at the Gavancho's house this weekend and you already know all about them from my other post. Lucky girl. 

  I've been able to communicate so much better this week. Lucky girl. 

  I got to listen to conference again this week. Thanks heavens for living prophets! Lucky girl. 

 My grandpa turned 90 yesterday and is still living life and havin a great time. I love him so much and I'm lucky to see hi as often as I do. Lucky girl. 

  I have a family at home who loves me and I love them. I don't know what is do without them. Lucky girl. 

  These were just a few of the thoughts I had about being a "lucky girl." 

My Jungle Top 22 (cause I couldn't narrow it down...)

I went to the jungle last week (Monday through Friday) and here's a list of my favorite things/experiences! 

1. The zip line to cross the river to the place we slept/ate/lived. 

2. Getting out of the city. 

3. Showering in waterfalls. 

4. Living without electricity. 

5. Taking data on the plants in the reforestation project. 

6. Hiking to see and hear los gallitos de las rocas (these cool, bright red and black chicken-like birds).

7. Soaking up some sun! 

8. Sitting under cover during a storm where we could hear trees falling all around us. 

9. Sleeping in the bungalow. 

10. Meeting some AMAZING people. 

(Not all of us, but I love these girls!)

11. Getting to talk about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

12. Having our public bus ride on the way home get searched by police for coca leaves which they collected several LARGE bags of haha! 

13. The butterflies. 

14. Finishing an entire book!

15. Chopping down a bunch of bamboo with a machete. You guys, it was for reals, and I felt pretty dang awesome!

16. Swinging on a vine.

17. Finding and collecting little trees for transplanting. 

18. Swimming in the river. Took me back to my days at "little lava" :)

19. Learning some things about natural medicine/remedies. 

20.  Sitting by the river and enjoying the sound of running water. 

21. Visiting Patria. The closest, decent sized jungle town. 

22. Falling asleep to the sound of crickets.