Otuzco ECPA Workshop

Two weeks ago, I attended the Otuzco ECPA (Energy and Climate Partnership of Americas) workshop on climate change. Our activities included: visiting a biodigestor, fun games to help teach climate change, watching a solar water pump demonstration, learning about hydroponics, constructing a cocina mejorada (improved kitchen oven), and more! (A cocina mejorada is an improved kitchen stove that reduces wood consumption, improves heat usage, and funnels out harmful smoke. We installed one in a school in Otuzco.) It was a super informative workshop. I learned a lot and it was really cool seeing my peers teach in Spanish. I look forward to the second workshop coming up this week!

The Beautiful Otuzco

Playing Red Rover P.S Mike is a cheater

Playing Snakes and Ladders

Playing Slides and Ladders

This adorable guy at the Biodigester site

DeeDee's awesome digester!

Mike teaching some solar math

The panel demonstration

Getting some soil/picking out rocks

Picking out more rocks and mixing the soil with water

Mixing

Cutting the adobe blocks to size

Getting even more soil....

To build this beautiful cocina

Also this adorable guy was at the site

Frogs, Toads, and Snails! OH MY!

Walking around Huancavelica, Mike and I noticed a large group of people surrounding a man shouting/holding a water bottle that appeared to hold really really dirty water. We listened for a little bit and discovered that he was selling unlimited toad/frog/snail/artichoke drinks for one sol! What a steal, right!? We listened a little longer as he listed off all the things this drink cured: headaches, nerves, epilepsy, asthma, bronchitis, chronic cough, arthritis, silicosis, osteoporosis, and scares! This sounded too good to be true! Yet everyone around us swore this drink worked. We watched as a little grandmother chugged her drink and asked for 3 more servings. We were sold. He gave us a 2 for 1 deal. It was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. It honestly tasted like watered down Quaker (here it is pronounced Quacker by the way.) All part of cultural assimilation :). 

Villa Cariño

On our second day in Huancavelica, we visited some natural hot springs/waterfalls right outside the main town. Again, it was incredibly beautiful but we again got rained out. I cannot wait to visit Huancavelica when it is not rainy season.

Mike loved this shot showing the mountains/town

Rock Forest in Huancavelica

On our first day in Huancavelica, some locals recommended we visit a beautiful rock forest a few kms outside of the city. We took a cab up and then hiked around for about 30 minutes. It was phenomenally beautiful but it unfortunately started to rain and we had to leave. I hope to go back and visit again and spend some more time up there. It was extremely beautiful, tranquil, and unknown.

Classic Mike... finger in the shot

Love this picture of us

Arriving in Huancavelica

After Paracas, Mike and I made the slightly sketchy and long journey to Huancavelica. We arrived at our hostal at 3AM and were a little worried when we saw the entrance (It was very cluttered and slightly messy.) Then we were lead up to a gargantuan but very cold room. I don't know about Mike but I fell asleep worrying about whether we had made the right choice visiting Huancavelica. However, we woke up to a spectacular panoramic view of green mountains! Our room was still super cold though and I did not want to take off the many blankets I had on top of me. Mike, oh so sweetly, brought me breakfast in bed. Our breakfast of fruit, and bread was amazing. A lady right outside out hostal was selling the most delicious bread I've had in awhile. She had sesame seed bread, whole grain, and the best cheesy bread I have ever eaten! We then went out and explored the many churches, cobblestone roads, and the plaza de armas.

40 soles a night room with spectacular views

Nice break from the coast

Bought some legwarmers here

One of the many beautiful Churches

Interesting fountain on the climb to the springs

The beautiful Plaza de Armas in Huancavelica