Background: July 12th and 13th: The entire population in all of the region of Cusco is on strike in order to protest against a governmental decision opposing the addition of a new international airport close to Cusco. (They want the airport) This means there are no buses and few taxis running, medical facilities are running on minimal staff, streets are closed, schools are closed, several businesses are closed, police are everywhere, and so are rioters. This means that it is difficult to travel long distances safely. So logically (<--sarcasm), we went to Tipon (~10 miles outside of Cusco) this morning.
7:15am: We walk out of the door of our house, up to the main road, where we observed that there were no buses running and very few cars. We decided to head towards the main part of the city to catch a ride to Tipon.
7:30am: We board a colectivo car to San Jeronimo, where we were supposed to catch a bus or another colectivo to Tipon.
7:45am: (in the car just outside of Cusco) Our taxi driver was forced to turn around and find another road due to protesters in the street.
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Well that wasn't too bad. We'll make it, no problem.
8:00am: Our driver makes a U-turn, says we have arrived, and we get out of the car. Looking at the road we need to go down to get to Tipon, we see a mass of people running and screaming. There are rocks in the road. We decide to head up a hill to another road to pass the crowd. At the sound of yelling, we turn around. About 5 men are running with various items capable of doing damage (slashers, rocks, glass, etc.) towards a taxi that is dropping its passengers off. They are attempting to break the windows of the car and slash the tires as the taxi driver pulls away.
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My life is in danger. That could've been us in that taxi. These people are crazy. Their actions don't make any sense. This is ridiculous.
8:20am: We have passed by the large crowd of protesters and found a group of taxis waiting to take people to Tipon.
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Is this safe? Are more crazy protesters going to jump on us?
We get in a taxi. A few minutes later, further down the road, there are more protesters.
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¡Miércoles! Here we go again...
Our driver keeps going. Finally, he turns and we head back in the opposite direction, then get onto a highway which is covered in debris--rock, tires, glass--heading towards Tipon.
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Free at last!!
8:45am: We arrive to Tipon. It's a mile uphill to our first destination, the Zoólogico Mundo Andino. There are no taxis.
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No problem. One mile--we've got this. Almost there.
9:05am: We arrive on foot to the zoo, where we are kindly welcomed by the owner. We are the only visitors at the zoo. We climb the hill up to the first part of the zoo: owls, cat, eyeglass bear, monkeys.
9:30am: The zookeeper opens up the parrot cage, tells Lexi to stand still with her arms out, and puts the parrot on her hand. We take pictures. The zookeeper climbs into the same cage and jumps out with a sloth. He comes over, puts the parrot on his hat, and places the sloth in Lexi's arms. A few minutes later, it is my turn, and he puts the sloth on me.
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Okay. I know some people who give pretty amazing hugs--just the right amount of tightness and warmth, a slight pat on the back, it lasts a bit longer than your everyday hug, but not awkwardly long. However, this sloth gave the best hug EVER, by far. And as I am thinking this and smiling and loving and cuddling the sloth...
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There's a parrot on my head now.
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No big deal; I'm just standing in the middle of the most beautiful country in the world, on a mountain, in a zoo, having survived a riot, cuddling a sloth with a parrot on my head. Yeah.
9:45am: The sloth is back in its cage now, slowly making its way to its bed. We're feeding monkeys corn.
9:55am: The zookeeper pulls out his keys at the door of the condor cage.
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Surely there's a big lock on the cage for a reason.
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He opens the door.
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We're going in? With that huge, unpredictable bird?
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He says we're going to take pictures and shows me where to sit. Sure enough, 10 minutes later, we've had an entire photography session, selfies and all, with a well-trained condor.
10:10am: We continue up through the zoo to say hello to the vicuñas and pumas.
10:30am: We leave the zoo and continue up the hill to the ruins. The zookeeper advises us to keep walking, find the path, and head up the mountain. It should take 20-30 minutes.
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No problem. It's only a mile or so. Easy.
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Wow this is steep. That mountain is pretty high up there. Almost there...
10:53am: Out of breath and exhausted, we arrive at the top of a mountain at the Tipon ruins. We walk through the Tipon ruins.
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These are some of the most beautiful ruins I have seen here. Originally, they served as agricultural terraces as well as a location for celebrations during the year. We had them practically to our selves because no one else was crazy enough to try to travel out of Cusco today. It was amazing!
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There are more ruins at the top of another mountain. It's probably at 10-15 minute walk.
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My legs are tired. I'm hot and tired.
This might be the only time in my life I am here. It's less than a mile. Let's do it.
11:35am: We head up the mountain.
11:45am: We arrive to the summit, another temple of the sun, though this one has been destroyed. A beautiful view of the valley.
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Definitely worth all the climbing.
12:00pm: Time to head home.
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Back down the mountains, to the street, in a car, through the protests, in a car, by foot.
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My FitBit buzzes--16,000 steps completed, before we've turned to head back.
12:15pm: A taxi honks at the bottom of the mountain.
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A TAXI!!!
12:25pm: We are back at the main road having been advised by our taxi driver not to pay more than 4 soles per person for a ride back to San Jeronimo. We stand at the road.
12:35pm: We are still standing on the side of the road, having seen a mere 4, very full taxis.
12:40pm: We are finally in a taxi, having agreed to pay 10 soles per person.
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So much for no more than 4 soles.
12:55pm: Back at the protests. They've settled down for the most part.
13:05pm: In another taxi, heading for the centro.
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PHEW! WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT BACK!
13:15pm: The taxi stops. He says this is where we get out.
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WHAT?! This is not the center of the city.
We're a mile away.
A mile. That's nothing!
13:30pm: We're sitting in a lunch restaurant.
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HOORAY!!
That's all folks. What a day! And all before lunch.
God is blessing you with so many "lifetime" experiences! Be careful. Grandpa Tom
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