Peru Community Service: Adios Patacancha!

As quickly as it began, our time in Patacancha has come to and end. Our hard work paid off and the classroom is near completion!

On the Friday before our departure, our friends in Patacancha threw us a send-off and thank you party, complete with the typical Peruvian pachamanca feast. Some of the students participated in the prep work for the feast, including the slaughtering of a sheep, but most of the cooking was done by the teachers and elementary school staff. The food was different from anything we had tried before but it was delicious and hearty, so we eagerly devoured it all.

We were all sad to leave our home. In the short time we were here, our students formed close friendships with the local kids, the families we had come to know, and the construction workers who helped us with our projects. Much of the last day was filled with goodbyes, photos, and final games of yoga ball soccer.

Part of the group decided that our final departure from Patacancha should be done on foot. It is a 3.5 hour walk (15km) from Patacancha to Ollantaytambo, but it is all downhill. It was a beautiful walk, but it proved to be quite difficult! Fortunately, at the end we were rewarded with warm showers and a delicious meal at our favorite Ollantaytambo restaurant.

For the past few days, we have been exploring Cusco and doing a lot of hiking. On Sunday, we took a day trip to Pisac, famous for both its ruins and its weekly artisan market. Yesterday, we wandered through some of the ruins and museums that make up central Cusco and today we hiked up to yet another ruin - Sacsaywaman.

There's lots to see in Cusco, but we are all ready for our big trip to Machu Picchu on Thursday! We hope you enjoy the photos, below.

Saludos!
Hannah and Yaser