Continued from Yesterday June 30, 2019 BY CASSANDRA JOHNSON
Back to the trekking part of our mission. This included our journey on the bus to the bus drop off for our hiking, lunch, sites along the way, dinner and settling into our overnight lodging to get a bit of rest before our Machu Picchu visit the next day: The long bus ride led us around some mountains that very much reminded me of those cartoons with a vehicle traveling around cliffs just wide enough to fit it. Dinner was included in the package. Our trek would consist of a 4-hour walk to Ollayantambo, which was closer to 5 hours.
The curiosity was spilling over from the Argentinian young ladies sitting near me during dinner. I was waiting for the questions to begin. I know we looked quite different from each other and I get it and I more so welcome the appreciation of my journey versus quiet presumptions. Certain questions appeared to be more the norm during the touristy parts of my journeys rather than during the volunteer portions, although I was questioned there as well. I am good with being the ambassador, to represent all the brown American girls that can be backpackers too, but admittedly it sometimes does get tiring. You know how people are individuals and what not but it’s nice to represent as well. It’s also nice to be admired and respected as well for having some adventure in your heart and it’s quite fun to gradually share unexpected answers with people, as they try to find clever ways to ask where you’re from, why you’re traveling, what you’ve done and as you let them know that yes, you know Spanish. Quite crafty to show up in places you weren’t necessarily expected to be, when you were not even trying to be crafty at all.
