Mancora beach

We went to Mancora beach in Northern Peru for 4 days. First we flew about an hour to Piura and then we took a minivan for 2,5hours to Mancora! It is a small town at the Pacific ocean with about 8000 people. It is very popular among tourists from all around the world. We stayed at Kokopelli beachpackers hostel. I met a lot of people in my journey, nationalities from England, Venezuela, Russia, Chile, France, Austria, Australia, Canada, US etc...

First day went at the beach, tanning and swimming. I was robbed at the beach, while I was taking pics of Juho and Niina swimming, someone went behind my back to my purse and took 90 soles. We were so tired after being awake for 48hours straight so after a couple of drinks we went straight to bed at midnight. The bar at the hostel was great and the staff so friendly. Mostly australians working there :) The second day we went horseback riding and at the evening for couple of drinks again with our local surfing teacher Gustavo and his Venezuelan friend Yuhsol. He taught me how to surf on the third day, it went well but the first time I was supposed to stand up another surfer ran me over so I flew off my board straight to sharp rocks and I couldn't get away from the rocks when the waves pushed me down again. But after that I stood up several times and it was fun! After that we went driving with a water jet, first all three of us on top and then just alone. It was fun alone when you could drive as fast as you wanted. The third night we went partying with our surfing teachers and british and californian people from our hostel.

Fourth day was time to go home, wounds all over my legs, ass burned badly and horrible hangover :D But this was worth it!

(Google)

Las Ultimas Clases

So the final week of school is NOW. Next week I have only a few exams and then it is over. One of the exams were supposed to be on thursday evening but the teacher changed it to monday (when we are in Mancora). Luckily we get to go the exam at home after our trip, the teacher is chaotic. He changes the schedules and doesn't keep any promises to send us material for reading at home... And in another course   the teacher changed the language from english to spanish all of a sudden and it is the most difficult course that I have. Now I'm supposed to do a group work in spanish of a subject I don't have any clue on. This exchange period has taught me humility and patience. Time went past so fast! I'm not gonna miss the school but the people yes. I have one month left in Peru and plans are to travel to Mancora next saturday, it's a beach in Northern Peru, and Cusco/Macchu Picchu in two weeks. After we come back from Macchu Picchu we have one week left here and I'm not yet sure what to do. If I don't have money I'll stay in Lima and meet all the people for the last time. If I have a good situation with money I would want to visit the city of Arequipa. Here is pictures from my last class of pastry and bakery.

Apple Crumble

Breads

Stop violence!

I found these pictures from war, they are really eye opening and I started thinking about all the horrible things happening in this world. There is not much on person can do about the violence in the world. EXCEPT not supporting yourself violence in anyway. My point of view is to be friendly to everyone even when you do not feel like it. Even the smallest things can get people hurt in a big way. I have also behaved really badly towards my family and a few friends and I deeply regret that but it's positive that I realize that I have done wrong. There would not be wars if we had only one religion and we would share oil and other fuels we get from this earth that we are ruining. Love for everybody :)

All the photos (c) War Photography

My first earthquake!

Every friend I have always send me messages on Facebook "Did you feel the earthquake???" and I always reply no because I haven't felt anything. They are very minor and lasts under 30 seconds. But today I felt it! I was sitting on our sofa with my computer in my lap and all of a sudden the computer started moving back and foward. I looked at Juho and yelled "Eaarthquaaakee!" he was very exited also to feel one. Now we atleast know how it feels, bigger ones are quite rare. These small ones are called tremors. Funny that we had earthquake evacuation practice at school today too :D

One of my friend told me about the earthquake that hit Peru 2007. It was mainly in Ica and many houses were destroyed. She felt it also in Lima, she was scared and told me that it was the longest 3 minutes of her life! It was measured as 8 richters. Over 500 people were killed that day.

FUN!

Trip booked to Cusco

A weeks trip to Cusco and Machu Picchu costs me about 520€. Here is the schedule for 5-11.12.2012. I am exited!

Day 01 
Flight from Lima to Cusco. Assistance on arrival in Cusco and transfer to Hotel. Free time to rest and acclimatize to the altitude.

Day 02 Cusco - City Tour
Breakfast. In the afternoon, city tour of Cusco visiting the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Temple of the Sun or Koricancha. We continue out of town to visit Kendo, Tambomachay, Puca Pucara and the impressive fortress of Sacsayhuaman, strategically built on a hill overlooking Cusco, famous for its enormous carved stones joined with astounding precision. Some of them are over 9m tall and weight over 350 tons.

Day 03
Breakfast. Departure for excursion to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit the Pisac market if it's Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday, or else in the ruins of Pisaq if Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday. Buffet lunch in a restaurant in the valley. Afternoon visit to the Fortress and Citadel of Ollantaytambo, built to guard the entrance to this part of the valley and protect it from possible invasion from the tribes of the jungle. We will have the opportunity walking through the narrow streets and have a clear idea of ​​how this military, religious and cultural during the Inca Empire. On the way back to Cusco, visit the picturesque town of
Chinchero where the remains of the royal hacienda of Tupac Inca Yupanqui.

Day 04 - Machu Picchu
Breakfast. Transfer to the trainstation Poroy or Ollantaytambo for taking the train to Machu Picchu. At the trainstation in Aguas Calientes, a bus takes you on a journey of 30 minutes by a zigzag path to the Citadel. On arrival, guided tour of the Citadel, visiting the Main Plaza, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Sun Dial, the Royal Quarters, Temple of the Three Windows and the cemeteries. Free time to stroll through the archaeological complex. Lunch. Accommodation in the town of Machu Picchu.

Day 05 Machu Picchu - Cusco
Breakfast. In the afternoon, return to Cusco. Accommodation in Cusco.

Day 06 and 07
Free time in Cusco to do whatever you want. Then a flight back to Lima.

(The program is translated from spanish to english by google translate)

Fiestas

This weekend we spent with out Mexican and Costa Rican exchange students. We found Finlandia vodka from the supermarket and introduced it to them. Some of them got really wasted :D It was a fun weekend. Today I have only 6 weeks left here in Peru. A part of me wants to stay and a part wants to fly home as soon as possible. But when I get to Finland, will I be stuck in the boredom of winter? and I hate Finnish men, they are freaking hopeless and most of them hate to show their feelings. It is different here, but still I don't seem to find anyone for me. If I don't find anyone after travelling 12 000km will I ever find anyone in this lifetime.

Class of horseback riding

This time I got to jump a few times. I got to ride 3 different horses again and the horse in the picture was the one I jumped with. The horse was a bit difficult to start galloping and then maintaining it but otherwise it was a nice one :) These classes has become a highpoint of my week.

Halloween

The halloween party was located 1 hour from Miraflores and there were over 2000 people. The ticket included free drinks so it was caotic at the bar, everybody just pushed and yelled trying to get more alcohol. I stood there for 1 hour and got like 3ml of whiskey... Money well spent :D Also the womens bathroom was full of drunken Latinas fighting in the line. It was crazy but at least I got a few new friends. Next time I'll know to participate in a house party instead of big event like this :) There was someone special missing from the party.