PERU!

Twelve Bement students and three faculty advisors traveled to Peru for ten days during our recent Spring Vacation. It was an incredible learning adventure for all the participants. Our first day was spent in Lima, the capital of Peru, visiting the national archaeological museum and taking a walking tour of the city. The colorful buildings with their elaborate balconies and doors were reminders of the rich Spanish heritage the city enjoys. Our group then traveled to Cusco, the ancient Incan capital that is located at 10,000 above sea level. From this hub, we visited Incan ruins in and around Cusco as well as in the Sacred Valley and other mountain villages. The students participated in native cooking classes, dancing lessons, farming and weaving demonstrations as well as Incan blessings. We climbed countless ruins, and slid down natural rock slides. Finally, we took a four hour train ride to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. We had an opportunity to relax in the natural hot springs for which the town is named. The highlight of our trip, of course, was when we explored the unbelievable ruins of Machu Picchu itself and learned even more about the Incan civilization. The weather was perfect! We even had a chance to see a distant rainbow, which made the site, and our visit to it, that much more magical.