In Turn, You Conquered

I came to you
upon a condor with silver wings
roaring through the shadows
and the terraces where you
rose and fell.

I came to you
intending to follow
in the footsteps of your conquerors
learned in the ignorance of black and white
at the tip of my tongue.

I came to conquer
your chiseled stone walls
while peering through the
innermost portions
of your souls.

I came to dance
with scribes who once tread
your slate and granite paths
that agonize and writhe
beneath our chemical soles.

So you wept for me
and in turn you conquered me.

You came to me
in black and white
through words your memory
afflicted on some other soul.

You came to me
as a vibration across vast oceans
and as memories of centuries
through the spoken and the visual
all but silenced.

You came to conquer
our spirits that lie trapped
in the crevices of your stones
beneath your terraces
above your clouds
forever entranced by
ancient organic beauty.

Pre-Inca Temple Uncovered

An ancient temple discovered overlooking Cuzco pre-dates the Inca civilization. CNN has the story.

WebQuest

Based on my experience in Peru and my love for the book The Motorcycle Diaries, my Project for the course Computers in the Classroom is a WebQuest for grades 11 and 12. While I would expect my students to read the required section of the book to complete the WebQuest, I attempted to integrate as much as I possibly could for anyone wishing to view the website. There are many quotes, audio, and video components to link to and enjoy. Click here to view the WebQuest.

"El Condor Pasa (If I Could)"

Back in January while in Peru I posted a link to a recording I created of the live music that was performed for us during dinner. As my friend Janet so astutely pointed out, the song was re-recorded by Simon and Garfunkel and titled "El Condor Pasa (If I Could)". The original song from Peru, titled "El Condor Pasa", was composed in 1913 by Daniel Alomia Robles who based the song on Andean folk tunes. The version I heard while in Peru has become one of my favorite instrumental songs, but I thought it would be fun to share the alternate versions.

Simon and Garfunkel



Julie Felix

Peru Listed as No. 1 Adventure Trip of 2008

Concierge.com recently released its top 14 Adventure Trips for 2008 list. Alaska, Tibet, and the Swiss Alps also made the list, but Peru is listed as their first choice. Click this link to view more.

Pineapple Juice

I am sure many of my blog readers remember my fondness for Peruvian pineapple juice. What many of you may not know is that I acquired a juicer for Christmas. Whole Foods Market, our local organic food store, has been stocking perfectly ripened pineapples from Costa Rica for about three weeks now, so I finally gave in to my pineapple juice craving. I have to say, out of all the juices I have made so far, pineapple is the easiest and the most delicious. Unlike many other juices, you do not have to add anything to pineapple juice. You just need to cut off the top portion and the outside skin. I suggest cutting the inner portion of the pineapple into quarters and then halving the quarters. You do not need to remove the inner core, most juicers will separate this for you. The result is a perfectly sweetened pale yellow juice with a light frothy top layer. For best results, refrigerate the pineapple twenty-four hours before juicing and do not strain the froth. One pineapple makes approximately three 6 ounce glasses of juice.

Enjoy!!

Machu Picchu Video

This may be one of the last posts I create from my trip to Peru. I do plan on following up with further news from Peru or on the Inca as I come across it. I am always on the search for articles pertaining to archeology or anthropology, specifically on Pre-Columbian cultures from Mexico or South America. The following video footage is from Professor Marilyn White of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Kean University. I edited her video together with some of my favorite photographs from Machu Picchu. To all of those who have followed our adventure, thank you! I hope to travel again soon so I can continue to share my experiences.