Peru 2010

~ Ms. Janna Reuter

In June 11 cadets embarked on a journey to the heart of South America for an 11-day cultural tour of the sites of Peru. Accompanying chaperones included Mr. Tom Klein and Ms. Janna Reuter. Upon landing in Lima, Peru’s capital, after a ten-hour flight, the cadets boarded another plane to fly to the colonial mountain city of Cuzco, once the flourishing capital of the ancient Incan civilization.

The boys went on a tour of the city that encapsulated the blend of three cultures: the Spanish, the indigenous and the mestizo. Antiquated cathedrals, cobblestone streets, and Incan remnants and ruins were among the notable sites. After a day or two to acclimatize to the altitude, the boys visited Machu Picchu. Arrival by train to the village of Machu Picchu some 8,000 feet above sea level enabled the boys to absorb and appreciate the natural beauty of the land: the Andes Mountains revealing the ever-present cultivation terraces and snow capped peaks to the rushing river valleys below. Machu Picchu means “old mountain” in the indigenous language Quechua, which is still spoken by some six to eight million indigenous Andean people. The boys hiked this old mountain for nearly eight hours while learning about why the Spanish were not able to find and plunder this great site. They learned about the usage of the primary buildings of the area, including Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun and the Room of the Three Windows, as well as the mystery of the interlocking rocks and other architectural secrets used to construct Machu Picchu in the 1430s.

After Machu Picchu, the boys traveled by bus north and upwards in elevation (12,500 feet above sea level) to the city of Punos, on Lake Titicaca. Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in South America by volume of water and an excursion by boat on this great lake led us to the floating reed islands of the Uros people, a pre-Incan tribe who still live by their ancient customs. The boys learned how the Uros use bundles of dried tortora reeds to make boats and to make the islands themselves; some of the boys crossed to another reed island via reed boat whilst being serenaded by young Uros girls. We then were on our way to Taquile Island where the native people of the island prepared a meal for us consisting of fresh fish, rice and herbal tea. A long hike brought us back to our small boat where our captain was waiting to navigate us back to the city of Punos to finish our Lake Titicaca cruise.

Our trip ended with an excursion to the sand dunes of Ica in the southern Peruvian desert and a tour of the Paracas National Reserve. In Ica, the boys rode dune buggies up and over the enormous sand dunes that presented a ride more exhilarating than any roller coaster I’ve ever been on. The boys stopped at the steepest dunes to go sand boarding, or surfing, down the large sandy hills. We rode back towards our accommodations at sunset with sandy hair and sore bodies.

After Ica, we traveled by bus to Paracas. Once again at sea level, we embarked on an ocean excursion out to the island of Ballestas where we viewed the famous Candelabra, considered to be the beginning of the Nazca lines. We also observed marine life such as sea lions, guanay black cormorants, penguins and seagulls.

Eleven tired cadets returned to their homes in Minnesota with many stories and adventures to share, memories gained, friendships strengthened, and a deeper cultural understanding and appreciation of the world in which they live. They were exposed to the ideas and customs of people very different from ourselves, tasted food very different from food they have ever tasted, and saw one of the seven wonders of the world. The cadets gained confidence and an admiration for the natural beauty of the earth, learned acceptance and tolerance, and shook off old fears. Suffice it to say that 11 cadets experienced a momentous journey that will not be forgotten.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream. Discover."  - Mark Twain

Students on the trip:

D. Wenger ’11
A. Stead ’11
R. Hernandez ’11
T. McQuillan ’11
T. Schwietz ’11
A. Curran ’11
M. Elliott ’12
G. Horner ’12
N. Palattao ’11
C. Clifford ’11
M. Hermann ’11