First day of school!

Monday was our first day that we would be helping out in the Peruvian school called Pukllasunchis. This school is absolutely fantastic! I have never seen anything like this school in the states...not only the way the school is run, but also the gorgeous facility that holds soooo many wonderful students! Pictures DO NOT do this school any justice at all, but it will give you an idea of where I'm spending my time at! This school has so many different elevations and is full of extensive walking and climbing!! :) We are definitely getting a leg workout while at this school (well, in Peru in general)!!!

This is the view when you first come into the school. To the right is the office, and straight ahead is the playground. The building towards the right is the primary building, and the building the is off to the left more is getting into your secondary education and workshops.

 This is a view from somewhere in the school! 

 View in the school! 

 In the school

 River that runs through the school! 

The farm that is in the school! They actually have a farming class!! 

This is the school garden...and yes, they have gardening classes as well...for all grade levels! 

 Part of the garden! 

View from one of the buildings higher up in the school!

 The older students get a free day on Monday's and can choose any elective class they'd like to take...these students chose salsa dancing!!!!!!!

 My kind of Monday!! :)

 My first grade classroom!

 Recess

 Playground equipment

First Floor: Offices (inside), Playground (outside)

Second Floor: The two kindergarten classes

 Dr. Fullerton, Melina, Noelle, Nina, and myself hiked to San Cristobol, Monday afternoon! It was incredible! This is the view from where we sat to rest! :)

 The Plaza

Like I said, the pictures do no justice, but the school is absolutely beautiful!

Sunday, part 2!

 Festival in streets! 

 Parade in the streets

 Random backyard fiesta we visited! :) 

 Dancing was involved! 

 Cutie!! :) All the men were dressed exactly like this! 

 182 steps to the top of Ollantaytambo, Peru!!

 Got to see a bull fight while hiking up Ollantaytambo

 

Sunday was absolutely wonderful!!!...and I think I already said that, but that is just how great the day was! We were out of the hotel around 9 and didn't get back until 7ish!!! The day was completely packed with fun events! We got to visit the salt mines, we got to dance with Peruvians in a locals backyard fiesta, we hiked Ollantaytambo, had an incredible lunch and much, much more! I wouldn't trade that busy day for anything! The experiences we had were absolutely perfect!! :) 

...Oh, one thing I did want to point out was the driving!!! On the way to the first tour I started to notice the driving in Peru. The vehicles drive on both sides of the road, even tho they aren't one way streets. They don't get over unless there is a car coming towards them!...this was quite an experience for me! I got nervous the first few times, and then soon became used to it and just decided to trust our driver...he was great!  

Sunday Funday!

 Breakfast in the Hotel

 Beautiful View! 

 Amazing Land

 Glaciers

Markets in the Mountains

 

 Backyard in Chinchero

 Chinchero

74-year-old Peruvian Ladies, absolutely unbelievable!

 Some kind of celebration or festival that was taking place

 Learning from our wonderful tour guide, Aldelki

 Taking in the wonderful history lesson and the beautiful weather! 

 The different natural materials used to dye the wool for the textiles

 Demonstrations!

 Breath Taking!

 Over looking all of the Salt Mines

 People working in their salt mines

 Lady collecting her salt

 This room was filled with bags of salt! 

 This is the beginning of the Amazon River! 

 Tunupa, the restaurant we ate at for lunch! 

Jessica and her spitting friend! 

 I'm a little more cautious, as I'm not a fan of the spitting! :) 

:)

Sunday was absolutely amazing and I have many more pictures to upload... We are headed to the Planetarium now so I will upload them later this evening!! :)