A Trip to Cuatro Lagunas

I've talked before about the community of volunteers in this area before. It's good to have others who are sharing in this experience. I especially like that the community extends beyond the 5 person JVC community to include the four European volunteers. This Thursday was something of a commissioning day for the Quispicanchi volunteer community.

Padre Calilo decided to take us all out for a day trip. We went to the Zona de Cuatro Lagunas (Zone of Four Lakes). It's a bit over an hour away and well worth the drive. It's absolutely hermoso (beautiful, exquisite, splendid). P. Calilo had told us to be in the plaza at 9:30, so at 9:45 we sauntered onto the plaza (funnily enough, Calilo was on time, we were the ones running late). First we drove to Acomayo, which is the capital of the Acomayo region of Cusco. It's a small, but lovely, town. There's a river running through the middle of it, and it's nestled between two mountains, so it's a long and thin place. They have a beautiful church with a cool mix of three architectural styles. I also like their plaza better than the one in Andahuaylillas, it's more open and bright. The trees in Andahuaylillas overshadows the plaza and can block views across the plaza.

We piled back in the trucks and drove to Pomcanchi, the first and largest of the four lakes. We followed the road around the side of the lake. On the way P. Calilo stopped to allow some farmers to hop in the back and gave them a ride up the road to their lunch spot. After we dropped off the farmers we continued on to a boat launch for our own lunch. Padre brought sandwich fixings, sodas, fruit, and desserts (lolipops and chocolate peanut bars!).

After lunch and some time climbing around the hill nearby, it was time to drive by the other lakes. I handed my camera off the Jacq, who had the window seat, to take pictures of the first lake, Pomacanchi, on the way by.

Our trip to the next lake was not destined to be a smooth ride. Of course there was the bumpy dirt road, but then there was this:

It was, as Jacqueline said "such a Peru problem." We were driving through an area that produced lumber, and the lumberjacks had left tree trunks across the road. Victor and I tried to move them, but it turns out trees are really heavy. Padre Calilo and the other driver walked back up the road to where we had passed some men with chainsaws, to ask for their assistance. We waited with the trucks and climbed around on the tree trunks.

When Padre Calilo and the other drive returned, they were not leading a group of men with chainsaws. They had been told to call to the workers on the other side of the roadblock. We hollered to no avail. Fortunately, I had Ms. Esposito in sixth grade for math. Among other things, she taught us how to whistle really loud. That got their attention, and two guys came down with their chainsaw. They spent about fifteen minutes clearing out the road, and we were finally able to get back in the trucks and continue up the road. We gave them all our bananas and two Inca Kolas as thanks. If they hadn't cleared the way for us, we would have had to reverse two miles up the road.

We drove past the other lakes without stopping (except for short stops to take photos). We had to be back in Urcos in time for dinner.

Sheep can be a temporary roadblock in the Andes.

The other half of our group following us.

Victor rode in the bed of the truck for awhile to take photos.

Padre Calilo, the fearless leader

We arrived back in Urcos and went to P. Calilo's house. Every Thursday during the work year, the religious community of Andahuaylillas holds a mass and dinner, with alternating hosts. Being volunteers connected with the Jesuits, we're part of the religious community. We had mass in the chapel in P. Calilo's house. Instead of a sermon, we shared reflections on the readings. It was a nice alternative from the traditional 'shut up and listen to the priest' kind of mass so many Catholics are used to. After mass we had dinner. It was two traditional Peruvian dishes: arroz conpollo and papa a la huancaina (links go to recipes if you want to try for yourself).

It doesn't get more typically Peruvian than this plate.

 So this is the volunteer community of Quispicanchi. The only person missing is Corontin, a Belgian volunteer who is placed in Ocongate. He's currently on a trip to see some Incan ruins around Cusco. This is my extended family for the year.

Erin
Lucia, Theresa, Victoria
Victor, Jacqueline, Martha
(I'm behind the camera)

PS-The map at the top is a google feature I'm trying out. Feedback is appreciate. Does it work? Does it give you a better sense of where things are? Is it just confusing? Leave a comment or send me an email.