through my eyes...

the world according to a globe-trotting, sight-seeing, day-tripping, frequent-flying damsel in de-stress

When food poisoning isn´t merely food poisoning...

PERU | Tuesday, 18 Sep 2007 | Views [531]

Sometimes food poisoning isn´t merely food poisoning when it´s...well, you´ll see. After three days of illness, Ginny (our volunteer coordinator) took me and two other sick volunteers to see a doctor in Cuzco—someone the organization trusts and works ... Read more >

Tags: doctors hospitals & health, adventures, voluntourism


A trip to the Sacred Valley...

PERU | Saturday, 15 Sep 2007 | Views [274]

It isn´t all about work here in Peru. In fact, our first full week contained plenty of sightseeing as we eased ourselves into being in Peru, being together as a group, acclimatizing to the altitude, and becoming accustomed to the Pumamarca school in general.... Read more >

Tags: sightseeing, adventures, doctors hospitals & health


The food in Peru, part I

PERU | Thursday, 13 Sep 2007 | Views [774]

Okay, we didn´t eat the exact one in the photo, but alpaca is a popular regional dish in the mountainous areas for obvious reasons: it´s what´s available. Despite the fact that the “cute factor” might make this meat unpalatable for us Westerners, I am ... Read more >

Tags: food & eating, adventures


Getting into a routine in Pumamarca...

PERU | Wednesday, 12 Sep 2007 | Views [240]

Our comings and goings to the Pumamarca school are both exciting and bittersweet. When we arrive in our combi van, there are already children at the gate awaiting our arrival and welcoming us with hugs, kisses, and a resounding chorus of “hola amigos!” ... Read more >

Tags: voluntourism, adventures


Gallery: Peru Volunteering

PERU | Wednesday, 12 Sep 2007 | Photo Gallery

All photos taken by Colleen Finn
See all 138 photos >>
 


Gallery: Peru Sightseeing

PERU | Wednesday, 12 Sep 2007 | Photo Gallery

All photos taken by Colleen Finn
See all 314 photos >>
 


Exploring the Incan puma...

PERU | Tuesday, 11 Sep 2007 | Views [637]

Yesterday we spent a full day exploring the many Inca ruins that can be found in Cuzco. We started with a horseback ride from lower Sacsayhuaman to one of the sites at higher elevation where many Inca tunnels can be found. During the time of the Incas, ... Read more >

Tags: sightseeing, adventures


Our first day at the Pumamarca school...

PERU | Monday, 10 Sep 2007 | Views [690]

Today was our orientation at the Pumamarca school. Pumamarca is a rural village outside of Cuzco where the people live in extreme poverty—there is no sewage system, no running water in the homes (the locals either use untreated water from faucets outside ... Read more >

Tags: voluntourism, adventures


Feeling at home in Cuzco...

PERU | Sunday, 9 Sep 2007 | Views [267]

Arrived in Cuzco. I am so thankful that I opted to take anti-altitude sickness tablets before coming, because the altitude (which is approximately 11,000 feet) is not affecting me as much as it has at lower elevations in the past. Cuzco is nestled in ... Read more >

Tags: voluntourism, adventures


A short stay in Lima...

PERU | Saturday, 8 Sep 2007 | Views [179]

In Lima, I met up with two of my fellow volunteers. Since we weren´t going to be in Lima for long, we took a tour of the city and saw many of the major sites. We started in the Plaza Mayor, which is at the heart of central Lima. On one side of the plaza ... Read more >

Tags: sightseeing


Buenas dias from Lima

PERU | Saturday, 8 Sep 2007 | Views [182]

The purpose of this entry is simply to let everyone know that I´ve arrived safely in Lima. In fact, traveling here was one of the smoothest trips I´ve ever taken—no delays, good weather, I even had an empty seat next to me on the flight. An empty seat ... Read more >

Tags: planes trains & automobiles


There and back again...

SPAIN | Monday, 28 Aug 2006 | Views [171]

So here we are, my final entry for this trip. My luggage never did make it to my hotel. Instead, this morning when I returned to the airport to catch my flight home, I stopped in the baggage terminal and lo-and-behold: there it stood, in a sea of other ... Read more >

Tags: relaxation, sightseeing, planes trains & automobiles


Nothing but coffee and the clothes on my back...

SPAIN | Friday, 25 Aug 2006 | Views [276]

I believe that my first entry in this summer’s journal said something to the effect of ‘travel is not for everyone.’ Funny how that is how my journal began—and now that I am preparing to end my journey, that is also how it will end. When I arrived in ... Read more >

Tags: planes trains & automobiles, adventures


The heavenly hamam...

TURKEY | Wednesday, 23 Aug 2006 | Views [225]

I can't finish writing about Turkey without mentioning our trip to a traditional hamam, or Turkish bath. I wasn’t sure what to expect at first, but I was ready for a bit of relaxation. The Turkish bath experience goes like this: you arrive, remove your ... Read more >

Tags: relaxation, sightseeing


Turkey in a nutshell...

TURKEY | Wednesday, 23 Aug 2006 | Views [305]

Krystal eventually did make it to Istanbul, albeit just by the skin of her teeth and much later than expected. She was fortunate to have been on one of only a few flights that were allowed out of London that day. Flying to Istanbul from Athens might have ... Read more >

Tags: sightseeing, adventures


Gallery: Turkey

TURKEY | Tuesday, 15 Aug 2006 | Photo Gallery

These photos courtesy of my travel mate, Krystal Habermann
See all 35 photos >>
 


Terrorist plots and flying carpets...

TURKEY | Sunday, 13 Aug 2006 | Views [223]

Several days ago, a terrorist plot to bomb nine planes with liquid explosives (concealed in carry-on luggage) was foiled at Heathrow Airport. Needless to say, it’s been all over the media and has resulted in even tighter flight restrictions. I had no ... Read more >

Tags: planes trains & automobiles, sightseeing, adventures


A whirlwind week in the Peloponnese...

GREECE | Friday, 11 Aug 2006 | Views [316]

Due to the magic of the Internet, a whole week in the Peloponnese has already passed. You see, this week has been my one chance to get caught up in my journals once-and-for-all, so I have been cramming over two weeks of entries into one. This entry will ... Read more >

Tags: sightseeing, adventures


Saying farewell to Aegina and the hospital...

GREECE | Wednesday, 9 Aug 2006 | Views [314]

Morning is my favorite time at the hospital. Since our shifts don't start until 9:00 am and most volunteers sleep in until shortly before, that means that waking up at 6:00 am affords me several hours of alone-time to have my coffee, read, say 'kalemera' ... Read more >

Tags: voluntourism, adventures


Learning new skills...

GREECE | Monday, 7 Aug 2006 | Views [241]

Last night several animals were brought in (every day many animals come to the hospital via ferry), one of which was a stork that had collided with some electric lines. The accident sheared off a wing, paralyzed part of its body, and amputated the bottom ... Read more >

Tags: voluntourism, adventures


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The blogger being a floor potato between trips

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