by Ian | Aug 12, 2010 | Peru 2010
So now the bases of the walls were finished it was time to start the rendering/plastering of the insides of the walls. We had no sand and instead of ordering it we decided to save money by diggin it up from a local river flood plain that was about 300 m away. Dave came up with the genius idea of filling our rucsacks with the sand to carry it back as we had only two working wheel barrows (one of which had a flat tyre).
Meanwhile, The Pumas, Dave, Bram & Alex headed into Cusco to buy some shopping and the metal for the window frames. Bram had an epic time buying the metal then we had to transport the 5.5 m steel lengths in the back of the old skool split screen VW campervan back to Azul Wasi with a bag of potatoes, Bram & Alex sat on top to kee it from falling out.
Joe, Doug and others finished the football net.
Alex
by Ian | Aug 12, 2010 | Peru 2010
Day 2
After the success of laying the concrete slab on day 1 of the project we moved onto the walls. Bram was established as the Project manager, he took the lead with his newly purchased plumb line and trowel. All hands were used mixing mortar and moving blocks into place ready to be laid. The group washing line consisting of 30m of paracord was used as the string line to get the walls straight. The overall plan for the building is a half height wall with windows at the top. The day went really well laying 3 courses of blocks on all 4 walls. The last task of the day was to insert a steel rod across the wall before the 4th course to strengthen the wall.
Others made a start on repairing the nets on the goals on the playing field.
The building close to the finish of the day.
Dave
by Ian | Aug 10, 2010 | Peru 2010
On Sunday 8th we went white water rafting on the Urubamba river. We left the orphanage at half 8 and drove to the river which took a long time. We met our guides, who were experienced on the river and started paddling at 10. We were on the river for about 3 hours and when we got off we had a BBQ lunch, which was cooked by one of the rafting people. It was an amazing day, for most of us, and we all got wet and had a good time. When we got back later that evening our bus broke the wooden bridge and we all had to help to lift the bus out of the ditch and back onto the road. This proved more difficult than it first appeared as the bottom of the bus was stuck on the banks so we had to lift out a bus for 26 people.
The next day, Monday 9th, we started the project properly. We had an early delivery of concrete, to cover a 7×3 meter room. We spent most of the day mixing concrete and despite it being hard work most of the team felt glad that they wer finally helping the orphanage. Once we had cleared away all our tools and washed up a bush caught fire because of the hot temperature and the dry grass. We had to put it out with dirt so the embers didnt land on the tents and set them alight. The 9th was also Joe Bampton’s birthday so we had a party for his birthday in the evening. It was a good day and we all felt better for relaxing at the end of a hard days work.
Doug Bennett
by Ian | Aug 8, 2010 | Peru 2010
We arrived into sunny Cuzco by plane which is at about 3000 metres, some of the team felt the effects of the altitude but soon became aclimmatised and started to enjoy the beautiful scenery and gorgeous weather. We were then taken to our hostel in San Sebastian district before braving the local taxis into central Cusco where we had our first Peruvian meal in a small restaurant which gave us a taste of the local food and what is to come. That evening the leaders organised the arrangements for the community project at Azul Wasi with Alcides the project manager.
The following morning we took the team into Quencheq market where we had a traditional healthy Peruvian breakfast of fresh fruit juices and light sponge cake. After breakfast our guide Rafael showed us round the market and explained the local produce on offer. Later on that day Rafael took us to the scout centre of Cuzco where we saw all the facilities of the centre including a dance studio where they practise traditional dances with authentic costumes.
Rafael’s wife had kindly provided lunch for the day which was chicken cooked Peruvian style served with potatoes, salad and Inca Cola which tastes like Iron Bru. After lunch we travelled to Azul Wasi by coach which was half a hour away from Cuzco in a town called Oropesa. We met with all the children of the orphanage who were all dressed in their yellow football kit, they were ecstatic at our arrival and welcomed us into their home. We then proceeded to set up our tents along the bottom of their smallfootball pitch. We finished the day with hot chocolate and sweet bread.
We woke up to a cold and fresh morning when Dave and Bram went to get supplies for the week from Cuzco while the rest of the team explored Oropesa. On our return we unloaded all the materials for the community project which we had purchased with fund raised money from the UK.
Today (sat) we got up early to walk into Oropesa to get a local bus to a place called Pikillacta which is a massive archaeological site which is the remains of a pre-Inca city built at the peak of the Wari culture. The site has many ruined houses and the remains of straight streets, there were a few houses that were in good condition which gave us a real flavour of the living conditions of the time.
After that unique experience we then walked across the valley to Lucre where we had lunch and caught a coach to Tipon our next site of interest. Tipon is a place of agricultural research and worship where water channels are used to irrigate the crops in the past for the Inca people. We had an interesting coach journey back to Azul Wasi along small dirt roads with sheer drops either side.
After this amazing day we are looking forward to tomorrow when we will be white water rafting !!!
Bram & Phil
by Ian | Aug 5, 2010 | Peru 2010
After a long and tiresome 2 days travelling we are now finally in cusco. The 3 flights all went without any major problems just some small delays. The team are all well and settled into the hotel here. Today we have ventured into the town centre and had a 3 course lunch at ” La Cofradia” a small restaurant. The leaders are getting to grips with currency exchange while the team are trying their best at spanish whilst organising taxis and ordering food.
Looking forward to tomorrow we are having a traditional lunch with our in country friend Rafael Escobar before travelling to Oropesa to erect camp at the Azul Wasi orphanage.
Love to you all
Dave, Alex
by Ian | Aug 3, 2010 | Peru 2010
Fourteen Explorer Scouts and four Leaders set off at 4am on Tuesday morning for their expedition to Peru. Travelling via Houston to Lima and then onto Cuzco, the 6-week expedition will include community work at the local orphanage, hiking the Inca Trail, and experiencing the local culture including Macchu Picchu.
Meanwhile, the topics at the departure preparations on Monday evening included how to keep iPods charged during the trip, whether bags were within the weight limits, and how short haircuts needed to be to last 6 weeks.
To follow the expedition’s progress, visit https://hsx.org.uk/. The team are due to return on September 11th to an official reception – more details later
So now the bases of the walls were finished it was time to start the rendering/plastering of the insides of the walls. We had no sand and instead of ordering it we decided to save money by diggin it up from a local river flood plain that was about 300 m away. Dave came up with the genius idea of filling our rucsacks with the sand to carry it back as we had only two working wheel barrows (one of which had a flat tyre).
