OH the places we've been...Machu Picchu

 

If visiting friends and their families and experiencing authentic Peru wasn't already one of our favorite vacations...a weekend at Machu Picchu really topped it all off!

OH MY GOODNESS...Machu Picchu is impressive.  What a great way to end our trip with some one-on-one time with my honey and get an once in a lifetime experience.  We flew into Cuzco and rode via taxi to Ollantaytambo...a picturesque town full of cobble stone streets along a river.  From Ollantaytambo we traveled to Aguas Callientes via the only route possible:  train. 

Mystic Machu Picchu

The train ride took us deep into the jungle with crazy mountains jutting up on each side of the canyon until we reached the town at the base of Machu Picchu where we spent the night before embarking on our visit to Machu Picchu early the next day. 

It was difficult to see the old ruins at first because of all the mist and fog in the air.  We hiked straight up Waynu Picchu (a steep mountain overlooking the old city).  It was a great hike, but the fog only got worse.  For one brief second we got a glimpse of the city.  The rain started when we reached the top and it was quite the adventure making our way back down the steep trail which had now turned into a miniature waterfall. 



This guy almost ran me over as I was taking
a break. I smelled him before I saw him

temple of the 3 windows

By the time we reached the bottom and started walking through the city, we were soaked, cold, and I was a little miserable and starting to get sick.  Despite all that, it did not take away from the beautiful city.  We spent the entire day roaming the terraces, streets, and every nook and cranny.  We hung out with the alpacas and llamas while the sky cleared and eventually dried out and warmed up.

Peru and Machu Picchu left us with wonderful memories and a yearning to visit more of South America.  If anyone is even slightly tempted to visit this wonderful place...then GO!  It was totally worth it and more beautiful than any picture could capture...even though Jesse did a pretty good job :) 

Yep, we climbed that mountain in the background

 

Beautiful Trujillo...Peru Part Two



When visiting Peru, why should you add Trujillo to your list?



Besides being right next to the ocean, and packed full of history and culture;  Trujillo is the home to Laura y Diego and their beautiful families!

We got the privilege of staying with Diego's family during our weekend in Trujillo and spending a Sunday afternoon at Laura's families' fruit farm.  Trujillo is a beautiful place to visit, but the best part for Jesse and I was simply getting to hangout with our Peruvian friends and experience life in Peru.




Evening at the beach



Afternoon with both families at the farm




Top Ten Things we love about Trujillo:

10. The bright colored buildings

9.  We got to visit the dessert and the beach

8.  Peruvian Desserts

7. Chicken sandwiches

6. Giant corn and cheese...muy rico! 

5.  Burnt up old taxidermy animals

4. Eating at a family owned restaurant

3.  Wandering the fields and picking fruit at the farm

2. Discovering Asian fusion food

AND #1 ...Getting to spend more time with Laura y Diego because we missed them and still do!!  Thanks for letting us visit you.  You made our trip more special, more memorable, and much more fun :) 

 

South America added to the List...Part ONE

Gary, Elizabeth, and us at the zoo

If it is possible, we will always find a way to travel.  It is in our blood now and no matter how young or old or rich or poor, we want to continue adding new and unique places to our bucket lists and once in a life-time experiences.  The World is an amazing place and we have been blessed to continue to explore it.



why so fluffy?

Our Spring 2015 trip to Peru was AMAZING and because of the wonderful hospitality of our Peruvian friends, they made our experience more enjoyable than we could have ever planned on our own. 

We flew into Lima and Roger and Cene kindly greeted us with a driving "tour" of Lima.  We eventually ended up at Gary's place and could not have had a better host for our time in the city.  We enjoyed home-cooked meals, went to the zoo,  played with pet iguanas, encountered 40 + pet rabbits, and felt at home and covered with kindness. 


  Roger, your driving skills in the city are beyond impressive and we would not have wanted anyone else driving us through your crazy city :)  Elizabeth, we are so glad you took the time to see us at the zoo - we miss you!  Gary, you have an amazing family.  Thank you so much for everything and give your Aunt a hug!












All of you, remember to come back to Estes for a visit...you will always have a place to stay with us :)





 

Easter 2015

 Mom and Dad Barry joined us for a visit over Easter weekend.  It was a good visit and we were happy to have company over the Holiday!  We had dinner to celebrate Jesse finishing his master's work at The Big Horn restaurant on Sat.

Got up early on Easter morning for the community Son Rise Service (all the Christ centered churches get together and join as one to celebrate the resurrection...how cool is that?)

Went Squatch hunting, but did not find Big Foot or his booty.  Since the Family didn't do so hot on the Big Foot scavenger hunt the town puts on, I made up our own scavenger hunt around the yard.

Easter Brunch

The last day we spent snow shoeing in the park, where mom fell over several times and Jesse fell into a frozen stream (thankfully no one got hurt or too cold - just fun memories!)  We also spent a free night at the YMCA and enjoyed mini golf amongst the deer, a game of H-0-R-S-E, pasta dinner, s'mores, and a free breakfast before saying our goodbyes.

THANKS FOR VISITING!  IT IS ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU!!

 

 

"Its fun to stay at the YMCA"

Dog Sledding at SMR

During our off season at the Park, we have been working at the Y and it has been a very good fit for so many reasons...

For one reason, look at all that food--and that is just one days worth of finds!!  Winter at the YMCA has definitely helped our food bill out...it is crazy what people leave behind (too bad for them, wonderful for us)

BUT more importantly than the food are the wonderful friendships we have made from all over the world.  These people are what make are job enjoyable and it has been sad saying goodbye over the last month as their summer break ended and it was time to head back home.  Tears were shed, but memories will stay with us...and my goodness do we have good memories!!

Laura y Diego cooking us yummy Peruvian food
...we are excited to meet you in Peru!!

Rock Climbing!!

 The Girls

Our last adventure with June and Kit...in America
with snow Alian



Snow tubing at Snow Mountain Ranch with Sergio,
Hannah, and Munyee



 

A new group of internationals have started working and it has been good getting to know them.  I am sure this won't be the last of my blogs about the YMCA, but for now these are just a few of the many pictures. 

 

WE MISS YOU OUR FRIENDS!!  YOU ARE WELCOME BACK TO ESTES ANY TIME...OUR HOME IS NOW YOUR HOME. THANKS FOR ALL THE MEMORIES  

Ski Trip SMR

 

Schwester in the Rockies

I am gonna have to say so far the highlight of 2015 for me is having my sister come and visit us in Estes Park, CO! 

Whoop whoop hotdog, oh boy did we have fun.  Of course we would have loved to have her stay for a whole week if not longer, but the time we did have to together was packed full of memories and I can't complain one bit.  I am so thankful for the time we get to spend together.

Here is a list of highlights...

1.  Walking downtown in a snowstorm and warming up in shops along the way (and possibly making a scene or two)
2.  Cooking in the kitchen together
3.  Eating a home cooked meal in front of the fire at the YMCA lodge
4. Choreographed roller-skating
5.  The joy of wrestling in sumo suits (the Y's best kept secret)
6.  Waking up to a mountain view and blue skies
7.  Big Horn sheep sighting!
8.  Snowshoeing in a Narnia winter wonderland
9.  Picnic and hot chocolate by a frozen waterfall (even though you couldn't see it under all the snow)
10.  Smokin' Dave's BBQ and smokin' hot deals
11.  Skiing in Loveland with two of my favorite people
12.  All 3 of us tumbling off the ski lift causing the lift to stop and the lift operator to run out and check on us (must have been quite the tumble!)
13. Eating Gimbap with travel chopsticks and getting stared at, questioned, and praised for our creative packed lunch in our apparently huge cooler
14. Showing my sister my life in Estes and getting to share with her the things I love :)



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Sledding, Food, and Igloos!!

Through the YMCA of the Rockies, Jesse and I have gotten to meet lots of people ...and one of our favorite things is that they are new friends from all over the world :)

We had some epic sledding adventures with two of our Malaysian friends... picture on the rt. is right before Jesse and I had a major wipe out and broke our sled







Enjoyed a home cooked Malaysian feast.  They are all such good cooks and we enjoyed it more than I think they could understand...brought back good memories of the Asian food we have been missing since Korea

AND we hung out in a Igloo with friends from Peru and Chile!! So much fun :)

During our year in Korea, all the Koreans were so welcoming and hospitable.  It is fun we get to "pay it forward" and welcome others to the amazing place we get to live in and call home.  It will be sad when they all leave to go back home in a few months, but until then we hope to have many more good times!