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Missing In Action

Dear Friends,

Please don't give up on us.  We are so busy doing what we do best and being in Peru and taking care of our visitors that we have not time to post anything of merit.

Please come back from time to time to see what's new.

Welcome Back to Machu Picchu - The Ancient Summit and Hidden (not lost) City of the Incas

Well my friends, the time has come and we are all so grateful to be able to experience the majestic site.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, I truly felt that Machu Picchu was greatful to enjoy a well deserved rest.  We pound on it 365 days a year since it's re-discovery by Hiram Bingham oh so many years ago.  On one of my last visits, when I was with Leesa, the producer of the documentary, I told her I felt that the energy of the place had changed and it was feeling really abused.  I know this may sound weird to some of you but.....I have been there many times over the past 27 years and well, you know, you can tell the difference in the mood of someone and something or someplace.  I don't mean to wax "new age" here or anything out of the ordinary.  It was just what I felt and still feel.  The rest was well deserved and since it has opened, people are entering once again by the masses to have that special experience that beign their can give you. 

If all goes well, I plan to be back (home) in Peru sometime in May and look forward to touching my feet on that Sacred Ground. 

Just wanted to pop in and say how glad I am that the Citadel of Machu Picchu, the Ancient Summit, got a rest and now welcomes all with open arms.

We are waiting for you!

A Bit of Info about the Classic Inca Trail

The Incas built a vast network of roads to communicate with the four regions of their vast empire. The network was called Qapaq Ñan (the sovereign's highway) or Inca Road, and was made up of stone paths suitable for two or three people with trains of llamas as their beasts of burden. Rivers were crossed by hanging bridges and the steep slopes were mastered with steps and ramps.

There are remains of the Qhapaq Ñan throughout Peru that are still used today by local villagers and farmers. One of the best preserved roads is the trail that links Cuzco and the Lost City of the Incas - Machu Picchu. Today, hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu allows the visitor to step back in time and walk through a large variety of eco-systems and dazzling scenery. The length of this famous Classic Inca Trail is 39 kilometers (24 miles) and includes unforgettable views, archaeological remains; 400 different species of orchids and begonias, exotic trees like the pisonay, the queñual and innumerable species of fauna in their natural habitat, such as the cock-of the- rocks (Peruvian national bird), llamas and vicuñas, the white-tailed deer, the vizcacha (Andean chinchilla) and, if visitors are lucky, the endangered and vegetarian spectacled bear. The Inca Trail is one of the world's leading trekking and camping routes. You can hike this trail by permit only (we can help) and it takes 4 days and 3 nights camping.

Altitude:  Minimum: 2,600 masl - 8,528 ft;  Maximum: 4,200 masl - -13,776 ft.

Machu Picchu - Soon

So let's hope the weather holds up and the rails continue to be repaired.  I knew Peru would do it and I kept the faith.  It's an amazing place, a strong place. 

Machu Picchu will still get its well deserved rest.  Sorry to those of you who planned to make it there but....you can always come back.  I know I did.  Again and again and again.  And I still do.  The visitors who decided to come in spite of the fact that they could not see Machu Picchu itself, are having very special visits.  My team is doing a great job to make sure you see all the other sides of Machu Picchu.  The southeast has many.  Peru has many.  It is definitely a country you can visit over and over again.

4 Mar 2010 - Peru Rail announces that railway to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town) may be reopened as early as 29 March 2010.

Ancient Summit has just received the following Press Release –

Cusco, 4 March 2010-PERURAIL S.A. operator of the railways in the South and Southeast of Peru wishes to advise Travel Agents, independent travelers and the public in general that this morning Ferrocarril Transandino S.A. (FTSA) has announced that the railway line on the route Piscacucho (km.82) - Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town)-km.110) may be reopened as early as Monday March 29th if weather conditions in Cusco remain favorable and progress can continue at the present rate. Until today, FTSA and PeruRail reported the opening of this rail section would be April 1st. Progress in the rehabilitation of the railway works developed by FTSA’s engineers have allowed the possibility of this earlier date in a commendable effort to allow tourism to be restored to Machu Picchu. PERURAIL is developing a plan of operations for the restoration of their services based on parameters of operational security that will be made public during the next few days. PERURAIL highlights the efforts of the team of engineers and workers from FTSA that allow hope to thousands of travelers who are eager to visit Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu is getting a rest it deserves

I know it is so sad and disappointing to those of you who had scheduled to travel to Peru and visit Machu Picchu during this time when it has been closed.  I hope many have been able to postpone and come visit us later this year.  I can only speak for my travelers but know that there are so many who I am not in control of and send my well wishes out. 

On the other hand, I am happy for our ancient wonder.  The last few times I visited (and I am so lucky to have continually been able to), I felt as if I could feel the place straining under the pressure of the thousands of visitors walking all over it.  Not that I am against it.  Obviosly not.  Just sharing my late night thougts when I have the time to reflect upon my magical Peru and what I love so much about it.

As I have mentioned before, this is a resilent place with amzing people and they will not stay down for long.  Machu Picchu and all of Peru will be waiting to receive you with open arms and embrace you in a way that is unique in all the world.  So all in all,  rest well Machu Picchu, we will walk in your wonders very soon.

Cusco Floods - Community Kitchen

The women of the community have created community kitchens in Yucay and are working together to cook and feed everyone in need.

The Disaster the World Forgot

I am back on my soap box. The following photos are from the community where my kids were born in the Sacred Valley called Yucay. The degree of destruction is pretty serious although very few seem to have noticed. 86 families in this small area alone have lost their homes. This meand approximately 350 people including seniors, adults and kids. Tomorrow we are making another journey down to deliver necessities such as sugar, rice, evaporated milk, clothing, sleeping bags, tools, etc., to those in need.

Heartfelt thanks to all who have generously donated although you probably sent so much to Haiti as well. I know I did. Leave us not to forget Peru. I know I can't. I am touched by the generosity of those who have traveled with us and visited the area as well as those who have yet journeyed and are still looking forward to their visit and..........have extended a helping hand.

Things are busy on all fronts for me and it is interesting to observe my own feelings as I dance between taking care of my guests as well as trying to help the precious people who have been devastated.

I am in a frustrating time.  Not that I want this post to be about me but.......not being able to be in the Cusco area and do all I can to help is just plain frustrating.  I am sad for the over 30,000 who have lost their homes and  they were so poor to begin with. 

What is most frustrating to me is my inability to raise funds to send.  Being as busy as I am, there just has been no time for starting a 501c3 and the one that was a design of my heart has been ripped out from under me.  Seems in order to help those in need you have to havea big name behind you like Red Cross.  Please understand, I have great admiration for them and this is in no way meant to be discounting of the great work they do. It is just that I would like to get donations and stay in control of them and cannot get them on any grand scale because I have no NGO.  Being that I am so closely tied to the southeast of Peru, and beign that we already are well entrenched in humanitarian efforts through Ancient Summit, it is much more advantegeous to send monetary donations to my son, and my staff in Cusco and let them manage what we already know how to do.  Every penny we get goes to help and not to pay salaries, etc.  I guess I am writing to myself anyway as I haven't yet learned how to use a Blog.  At least I can say I have one, and that I am trying.  If anyone does read this, prayers are appreciated as well.  It is a challenging time for many good and innocent folks around the world right now. I am grateful, more than ever for all of the blessings in my life.

Here is the latest news about the situation in Peru -  http://www.livinginperu.com/news/11324

Julio Teaches and Loves

Many of you know about Julio, my son who never wanted to do his homework and is now the wonderful "profe" (pronounced pro-fey) or professor at our after school learning center. He is so dedicated to these kids and has beomce accepted and loved by them and the entire village. The kids have improved so very much since he came to them and we are hopeful that some of them will graduate high school someday and maybe even beyond.

When you travel with us and time permitting we always include a visit to the village. It is a village that exists on agriculture and weaving. Our guests can buy the weavings and also get to enjoy being in their fields and learning about their crops and the plants used for the natural dyes as well as medicines. There is no end to what you can learn there. During the school year, you also get to visit the classroom and meet and participate with the kids.