Yesterday was our excursion day and boy, did the adventures continue!! We got on buses at 5 in the morning to drive to the peninsula of Paracas where we took a boat out into the ocean. Did you know there were wild penguin living in Peru? Neither did I until yesterday. We got to see them along with some really big (and loud) sea lions that all live along these really cool and intricate rock structures out in the middle of the ocean. While that was fun and all, our next spot on the journey was a little hostel where we got lunch and hung out for a bit. Then we left and got to do one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced: sand boarding!!! We took a dune buggy out in the bumpy dessert terrain and got to get bounced around at really high speeds, while buckled in of course. Then we went to three different sand mountains where we got to sand board. At first we all went down on our boards on our stomachs, but that was not enough adventure. For all of us who were brave enough, we took the next two hills by storm. We rode down these steep, sandy hills standing up. It may not seem as adventurous as it sounds, but too see how tall these hills were, look down to the bottom, see our friends completely eat sand, then willingly decide to go down standing up was truly an experience.
After all of that, we had a wine tasting. Sort of. We got to try two different wines, pisco (a Peruvian specialty brandy), and a pisco cream, which our wine guide compared to Bailey's. That was pretty fun! All and all, a really incredible day full of a lot of new experiences that I'm so grateful for.
As I sit here reflecting on my week in Peru, I cannot help but have almost no desire to go home. That has nothing at all to do with anything except the fact that all I want to do is stay here and help. One week was not enough. I texted my family in our group message and told them I wasn't coming home. It got a few laughs, but I was so serious. If I could stay and help here for a couple more weeks or something, I would in a heartbeat. My travel visa doesn't expire for another 22 days...
Anyway, this trip really did put a lot into perspective for me. As I have never experienced anything like it at all, it really opened my eyes. I got to see a community that is virtually ignored by their government and help out in ways that I never imagined I would be helping. Though it is the communities who said they were grateful, I feel more blessed to have had the privilege to help. I feel so grateful and humbled to have had the opportunity to offer them assistance that truly is life changing for them, and to know that I am so privileged that I am able to offer some sort of help really does impact the way I see things.
It was the experience of a lifetime, and something I cannot wait to participate in again. I have already started planning my next trip, which will hopefully be to Moshi, Tanzania. Yes, Africa. I already brought up the idea to my parents; now I just need to start saving up!!
Thank you all for following along as I made my little journey in Peru. I hope you all enjoyed it and were kept entertained. Until next time when I make my next crazy venture out into the world, adios!!!
P.S. For any of you who are friends with me on Facebook, I will be posting an entire album full of amazing photos that have been taken throughout the week!! :)
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