MEMORIES OF PERU

Exploring ancient ruins and earth-nurturing practices

- Wanda Lambeth

Clockwise from right: Macchu Pichu from above; recovered ruins in Macchu Pichu; farming terraces and homes; a Quechua toddler at Mountain School; the Moray Circles.

On August 28, 2019, seven adventure seekers boarded the first leg of our journey from Vancouver Island, taking us to Peru, South America. Our group consisted of my lifelong friend Susan—both of us now yoga instructors and owners of Ananda Yoga Adventures—and five good friends: Adam, Corinne, Janet, Lori and Jeannette. After months of planning, we were finally on our way!

Twenty-four hours and four airports later we landed in Cusco, Peru, a city of one million people. Coming from Vancouver Island, where we live and which is only 100 feet above sea level, we honoured the fact that we were now at a much higher altitude—over 11,000 feet—and needed time to adjust to the scarcer oxygen levels! We heeded the advice of other travellers and the locals: drink lots of coca leaf tea and rest for a couple of hours before any activity. But we were soon hiking through the history-steeped ruins of Cusco and surrounding ancient citadels. Leaving Cusco the next day, we stopped at the Moray Ruins, which were used for farming and ceremonies by the Incas. Their size and unique layout should be considered a lesson in historical engineering genius.