Choquequirao Trip - Day 3 to 8

I finally find myself with time and the state of mental and physical well-being to be able to resume my journalizing of the trip. The trip through the mountains was both physically and mentally a challenging. I used every time and energy to accomplish the Journey and experience the mystical events and admire the amazing beauties that besiege me. My brain is not entirely back the are segments of my memory bank that are not accessible and I am still not fully here or there. Nonetheless I will like to Share some of this memorable experiences.

Let me start from saying how proud I am of being able to complete this 5 days trip. It has being the most physically grueling and challenging event in my life.  This was my maiden voyage and could have being a better one. I had to use every cell, every bit of energy and use every motivation talk to finished but I did. I was the snail crawling up the mountain but I finally reach the summit and was visited and welcomed by the majestic Condor keeper of the Andes.

My eternal gratitude to my group without which I could I have started. There love, support and compassion where instrumental. Also my gratitude to the Shamans and the guides and support workers, without them we still be in base camp.

Day 3.

The Choquequirao hike was very challenging. It required for each one of us to be ready to hike 6 to 8 hours a day. This terrain was very uneven and had many hills. Choquequirao sits in the saddle of the high of the Andeans ridge, 10,000 feet above sea level.  The city is an inspiring example of an elite Inca ceremonial center. It was dedicated to the worship of the mountain Gods or Apus, the river and all the other elements of natures. Choquequirao, the other Machu Picchu means "Cradle of Gold" in Quechua, the Inca´s language, although this is probably not its original name. It is another "Lost City of the Incas" rediscovered officially late in 20th century located high on a ridge spur almost 1750 meters above the raging glacier-fed Apurimac River and surrounded by towering Salkantay and Humantay snow-capped peaks.

Choquequirao was built during the last days of the Inca Empire in the government of the Inca Pachacutec 1490, by Tupac Inca Yapanqui, and probably after the Spanish invasion in 1532. Almost 40 years the Inca's held stand against the spanish conquerors (between 1536 - 1572). The construction of the different levels of temples, palaces, canals and aqueducts is really fantastic. “Choquequirao is the city which demonstrates the inspiring example of an elite Inca ceremonial center. A city dedicated to worship the “Pachamama” the Andean mother earth “the Apus” mountain gods and divinities, the river and the elements of nature."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choquequirao

I was mesmerized by the beauty of the mountains and the rivers and streams. I spent the majority of time in a sightseeing mode. We did a ceremony to asked permission from the Mountains to enter the domain.  While the ceremony was being carried by Carlos, our Shaman, several eagles were flying over us and flicked there wings like blessing our entrance and giving us the welcoming from the Apus mountains.  We all felt so special, so full cover by sublime energy of tranquility and greatness.

We where so intrigued by the surrounding beautiful scenes that most of our time was spent taking pictures and appreciating it. We stop so frequently to take pictures, that I am sure this explains why it took us about 9 to 10 hours to make it to first camp site when it should have taken just around 6 to 8 hours. We made it on the dark of the night as we attempted to hike with flashlight and head lights. It was quite an experience to hike down these narrow and rocky trails in the middle of the night.  It was so good to finally make to our first camp site safely and with all our body parts.  It was the first big achievement.

We finally made it and our trek was setup and soon the food was READY.  While eating, we discuss our slow day progress and the need to sleep it up for the coming dates. Our dining room was set in a basic, simple structure made of tree branches and cover by some kind of dry leaves. Despite its simplicity, the food and service were exquisite and delicious. Was as good and as elegant like any five star facility. Modesto, the main cook and his crew, certainly created high standards for days to come. Rooney, our team leader, was so tactful with us through the night never making us uncomfortable with our first date achievements; however he reminded us of the need to speed our process so that we can finish our second day in timelier manner. What a wise man!

At the end of the night I went to my tent where Dirk and I had all our equipment and our stuff.  Even though it was a crowded place and the accommodations were small, it didn’t bother us too much. I was too tired and too impressed by the experience.   That first night I woke up to empty my bladder. The night was cold and the fogs covered the mountains. When I looked up, a space cleared over the skies and a single bright star was shining and blinking which I felt was straight down at me. I was so overtaken by the moment that I closed my eyes and Oh my God!  When I open them again the star was gone and that was the only night that the star ever appeared. I felt like God was telling me - I welcome you and will guide you in this trip and in your life.  I felt the graced and the blessing that was given to me in that spiritual instant.

For the rest of the night, it was difficult to fall asleep. I was enjoying the experience. I was being soothed by the surrounding sounds of nature. I finally fell asleep.