Our first major stop after entering Peru was the lovely city of Chachapoyas (Cha-cha-poi-us) nestled in the highlands of the Andes mountains. There are several interesting archaeological sites within close proximity. The first we visited was called Keulap and is located on the top of an impressive mountain ridge. With walls exceeding 60 feet tall in some sections the manpower necessary to construct such a structure was staggering to think about. The second site was called Yalape and unlike Keulap has hardly been touched by archaeologists (probably because they can’t find it – we got lost several times :). Visiting this site felt like an Indiana Jones film set: overgrown ruins, hardly visible trails, and incessant rain pouring down on us the whole time (and the whole place to ourselves). We got wet, but thoroughly enjoyed our adventure into archaeology.
Our time in Chachapoyas also coincided with a major Catholic celebration so we were privileged to enjoy multiple religious processions (small parades), traditional dancing, two fairs, and special foods. The highlight of the event was the creation of many enormous colorful carpets, laid on the roads surrounding central park, made of dyed sawdust, corn, salt, beans, rice, and flowers. Different organizations and families spend up to 24 hours making these beautiful works of art. Which, shortly after completion, are then solemnly walked upon in the largest procession thus completely destroying them! It was an amazing cultural experience and we were so glad we could be there during it.
We did several day trips from Chachapoyas to visit some of the tallest waterfalls in the world. The highest one being Yumbilla (Yoom-Bee-Uh) which is 2,938 feet high!!! It is a waterfall in three separate parts, but apparently that is how they measure waterfall height for ‘world’s highest’. No matter how they figure it – we both agreed it was a REALLY tall and spectacularly beautiful waterfall! We also visited Gocta waterfall (a mere 2,500 feet high:). One of the most interesting things about both these waterfalls is that they were not ‘discovered’ until 2007 and 2006 respectively!!! These absolutely enormous waterfalls, some of the tallest in the whole world, were completely unknown to the ‘world at large’ until very recently. It makes one ponder what other unknown wonders remain still undiscovered!
From Chachapoyas we traveled to the small colonial town of Leymebamba (Lay-may-bamba). One morning we awoke to find the police force, local school children and town elders performing a flag raising ceremony together. Since our $10 hotel room had a balcony right on central park I was able to get a photo as the Peruvian flag was carried with honor around the square. Our first visit was to some ruins located at the end of a difficult and vertical three hour hike. The ruins were in pristine condition and hardly receive any visitors (see: difficult, vertical, three hour hike:). The site caretakers prepared us a traditional lunch of soup, potatoes and beans. Super generous and kind! Our next stop was the museum where many artifacts are on display; including a room full of mummified remains! Our last stop in Leymebamba was a small cafe that is famous for the many varieties of hummingbirds that can be observed there. We were not disappointed as the beautiful birds zipped around energetically just a few feet from where we sat!
The next morning we were planning to move on to the city of Cajamarca, unfortunately, Sharon got very sick and we were unable to travel the next day while she recovered. If you look at the pictures you will see Sharon lying on the roadside next to her bike. This was not an accident; this was the next day when she thought she felt well enough to travel…and perhaps wasn’t. Every time we stopped for more than a few minutes she got off her motorcycle and lay on the ground. Traveling by motorcycle can be exhausting when you feel healthy, so you can imagine how hard it is when you don’t feel 100 percent. Additionally, this was a particularly challenging section since we drove down 10,000 feet and then up 10,000 feet and then did it again – that’s the Andes for you! Our last stop before Cajamarca was the site where some of those mummies we saw in the museum were found. The holes are carved into the steep sides of a mountain where natural rock formations preserved and protected them for hundreds of years!
We hope this update finds you well and enjoying your own adventures!
A quick update on our current ‘adventure’ of getting our motorcycle repaired so we can continue our journey…the parts should be here today which would put us back on the road in about five days if everything goes well. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!
Chris & Sharon
Amazing pictures as always! Big healing hug to my girl Sharon! Thank you for sharing your incredible journey…praying every day for you both❤️
Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers!!! I feel and accept your big healing hug – thank you for loving me so much. I miss you and all my loved ones at the cancer center and can’t wait to see you again.
I feel your big healing hug all around me! I have completely recovered from the sickness we wrote about in that update. I miss you very very much. We are daily amazed and blessed by the people and places we get to experience. Thank you for your faithful daily prayers! I can’t wait to see you when we come back to visit in the summer of 2020!!! Love, Sharon
I only met you once, Sharon, while you were visiting mutual friends in Scotts Valley, California at a local church feeding the homeless. I so enjoyed talking to you about your ‘trip’ and was very pleased to find out I could actually join a mailing list to travel vicariously through you and your husband and read all about your fabulous adventures. That was last November. Each installment, describing the locations, your interaction with the locals, complete with beautiful photos have more than met my original expectations. Your dedication, your fatih, your unending interest in everything God brings to your day, is infectious. Your transparency and true-grit in the face of challenges, along the way, have added you to our prayer list, for sure. And last but not least…your humor as it all unfolds…is wonderful. I look forward to each newsletter…read every word and search every photo, with great interest. Thank you for bringing such remote parts of the world into our home to enjoy…Keeping you in our prayers.
Thank you for taking the time to write such an incredibly kind and thoughtful letter. Sharon and I were both greatly touched by your words and I even had a tear in my eye when I read how much you enjoy reading the account of our journey! It makes all the countless hours of photo editing and writer’s block worthwhile. Sharon definitely remembers the time you met and it is just amazing that such a ‘chance’ encounter has kept us connected for almost a year! We appreciate your timely encouragement and faithful prayers. God bless you. Sincerely grateful, Chris & Sharon
Such beautiful pictures! What an amazing journey! I want to go to Peru! I love the “angel baby” picture and that amazing bug! The mosaic art for the festival is so interesting. Praying for Sharon to feel better and for continued safety. Have a great time with Mom too! Love you both!
Thank you for taking the time to write on our blog in the midst of your busy life! It was wonderful to get to talk to you recently and catch up on what is happening in your life. Thank you also for your prayers, as you know, we go through them at an alarming rate :). Love, Sharon (and her secretary – Chris)
May God continue to guide you safely. Hoping you are better, Sharon. Thank you for these wonderful pictures and blog about God’s fascinating creation and peoples.
How wonderful to hear from you Markettea!!! It brings me so much joy to know that you are sharing in our adventures. I am totally healed, thanks be to God! We are so blessed to be able to travel to these places and meet these people. Love, Sharon
That hummingbird is the prettiest one I have ever seen! What amazing pictures as usual:) Love you both!! Cindy and Daymen
Thanks Cindy! We were lucky to get that picture (the sun only came out for about 5 minutes in the 2 hours we sat there watching them). So great talking to you recently and THANK YOU so much for helping us ‘resupply’ along our journey. Love, Chris & Sharon
Breathtaking!!! To think us Hinz family got the privilege and honor of being with you, praying with you and of course eating with you for that whole year in our momma house before we watched your adventures for Jesus roll away down our street. You are the Holy Rollers on wheels for Jesus. We are so blessed knowing you guys. Your constantly in our prayers, thoughts and hearts.
So wonderful to hear from you Dan! We were beyond blessed to share ‘life together’ with you and Melissa and the kids. There was definitely a feeling of sadness for us when we headed out on this trip last year because we knew we would not get to see the Hinz family daily anymore. It was great to talk to you recently and be able to continue to be a part of your lives. Thank you for your faithful prayers on our behalf. As you know, we go through prayers faster than most people! We miss and love you all, even Hans :)! Love, Chris & Sharon
Hi Sharon and Chris! Looks like an amazing trip, love the Peru pictures. Hugs and prayers from Florida, Laura and Burgess fam
It is SO wonderful to hear from you Laura!!! Just the other day I was thinking of how much you made me laugh. I sure do miss you! I would love to hear how you are doing – maybe you could e-mail me or text me when you get the chance? Love, Sharon (and her secretary Chris:)