So much has happened in the few days it's been since my last post. I'm going to try and keep this post concise in the same way that publishing companies try to rebrand Austen so it appeals to readers of trashy paperbacks; a clear effort is made, very badly, and the end result is that of literally no difference being made.
So first we went to Chinchero, where we saw how Peruvian weaving and fabric dyeing is done. It's awesome, by the way. I got two ponchos, both pink.
I also met a llama named Pacha (to keep the emperor's new groove thing happening) who looked EXACTLY LIKE ME. I know. I miss him already.
After that we went to the mountain village of Misminay, where we were to be working for the next week. The people there are LOVELY and the village is so beautiful.
Perched on the side of a mountain, they have the most incredible view of the Andes and the sacred valley.
We drove out of Misminay that day and the view from our bus was breath taking.
Which was probably a bad thing considering we were at 12,000 feet and most of us already spent most of the day gasping for breath in the thin mountain air. And by most of us, I mean me.
Sombre, monolithic mountain ranges with.shifts of snow at the peak stood encircled by fluffy clouds like proud guardians as the fourteen of us bumped and swayed along the dusty roads.
Below, winding tracks criscrossed the open paddocks dotted with tiny houses, which became sprawling clusters of houses with rooves glinting in the sunlight as we drove closer to Urubamba.
Urubamba means place of the spider in Quechua, by the way. Which is, uh... Comforting!
Bright and early the next day, it was time to start construction. Building a greenhouse involves stacking adoba, or big bricks made from clay mud and straw, and cementing them with Ballo- mud mixture. Needless to say, all of us were filthy.
So begs the question; a hapless Drinan building in a strange place, did she sustain any injuries?
Guys, I'm insulted. Of course I did.
While carrying a brick down a hill, I slipped and sliced my leg. My pain tolerance is higher that Wiz Khalifa (and this is not an invitation to pinch me when I'm home. You know who you are.) so it was fine.
Whilst cleaning it off, though, I did attract an audience of concerned Peruvian ladies who said a lot of thing in Quechua that I didn't understand and were highly amused at my Mickey Mouse bandaids.
After day one, we had a Spanish cooking class. We learnt to make Lomo Saltado. And I managed to limit the casualties to one that day. No volunteers were hurt in the making of this Lomo Saltado.
Day two was gruelling. I'm blaming the altitude, but fact is I'm probably just really unfit. We finished the walls, and levelled out the floor, and I went ape shit with a pickaxe. I'm not an angry person, but if I was... Man. Problemo solved right there.
So after the day of going American Psycho on a mound of dirt, the idea of a sunset hike was like my own personal version of hell.
Just when I thought it was about to die of exhaustion, a white Ute roars past and our team leader yells 'JUMP!'
So we did. Fourteen of us piled into the tray of this Ute to go up the mountain.
His driving was- well, I can't see him claiming any safe driver benefits with his insurance. At one point, he nearly went over the edge and I thought I actually was going to die. But it turned out okay. He drove us a bit of the way, and we survived. Mostly.
Then, we continued the horrendous, exhausting hike to the peak.
But Goddamn was it worth it.
Guys. I climbed a mountain. I actually did it. I'm so proud.
And the view was.... I wish I had words. But not even my photos so it justice.
That night, we stayed in Misminay with the local families. It was amazing. And cold.
We had a lesson in Quechua which, predictably, turned into us learning as many naughty words as we could, because we are twelve, while the Quechua family in the back of the room tried and failed to stifle their laughter.
Ask me how to say boobies in Quechua. I know it.
Misminay is full of livestock, too. Chickens, sheep, bulls, donkeys... I'll just say this, Donkey's are DRAMA QUEENS.
They bray like somebody's just stuck a knife in them. Like really!? There's no need. Let me sleep. I have a lot of greenhousing to do tomorrow.
Today, we were up at 5 for a sunrise hike. I thought I was past complaining about being either tired, muddy, cold or sore, but a 5am hike really takes them all to new levels.
There was some silent hill kind of fog happening, but once it cleared we had a beautiful view of the Inca structures at Moray.
Greenhouse progress today stands at OH MY GOD ITS ALMOST DONE!! Just the roof to go.
And did the hapless Drinan fall again? Yes, of course I did. My foot went straight through what I thought was solid ground and I landed on some magical stinging plant. It's cool. I tough cookie.
After the days building, we had a lesson in Salsa dancing.
Make dat booty work. I may have twerked. I'm not proud of this.
Massive few days! Another massive few days coming up. Excited to put the finishing touches on Misminay's greenhouses tomorrow!
As always, much love for you all xx
- G
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