>>>>

Friday, November 20, 2015

A Machu Picchu Kind of Day!



And finally I am to the part we’ve all been waiting for.

I’ve had to put off posting the crowning glory of our trip to Peru to this thing called “work” and this need to post other things that had definite post dates –such as both giveaways that are going on right now! 

I will be drawing for the winner of the Nov Quilty Box tomorrow evening.  Leave your comment to be entered to win  on that post HERE.

I’m also giving away two copies of Quiltmaker Magazine’s 100 blocks, vol 12!  That give-away went live yesterday and you can enter for that one HERE.

But today is all about Machu Picchu!

It was a foggy drizzly day – Spring in Peru is like that in the mountains, and we were just happy that it was not hosing down rain, just a bit misty.  Besides, the colorful ponchos we saw everywhere were a sight to behold!

In Ireland they would call that kind of weather “Soft”, so that is what we dealt with.  However, SOFT weather can be treacherous when walking stone staircases that have been around for more than 500 years, with not a hand rail in sight!


Crowds waiting to get in.

The words Machu Picchu actually mean “old peak” by definition, and this place does feel much more ancient than the dates of the Incan ruins reveal.  Who knows what was here before these walls were erected?


Llamas in the mist!

Our guide made the executive decision to save the best views for last hoping that the fog and clouds would dissipate as the morning went on.  And so we climbed stairs and sidled around ancient buildings as he talked to us about the origins of this historic place.  I learned more than I thought possible!  And my desire to learn more about this time of history in this place is still ignited.  There will be some youtube and netflix surfing over the holidays!


But I loved those llamas!


Amazing views!

The mist was ethereal.  One moment you couldn’t see anything in front of you.  Here we are up in the cloud forest, and I came to understand just why they call it that.  Then all of a sudden the clouds would part like smoke and reveal these magnificent views.  It was vast.  And I thought of these people who lived here, who created lives and had families in this place 500 years ago.  Did they think the same thing I was thinking as the scenery changed every few minutes?  This is just a magical place!


Walls built without mortar!


Climbing Higher!

I have to let you know that my fit bit said we climbed 196 flights of stairs on this day by the time day was done.  FLIGHTS!  That also means hills we walked in the Machu Picchu Pueblo by bedtime that night as well – but as I lay there on my bed, contemplating this amazing day, my brain was saying “you really should get up and do 4 more flights to make it an even 200 record!”  And my body said “NO WAY! Shut up and go to bed!”  My body won!  It stands as a 196 flights day.


Yep!  That llama is now my spirit animal!
They told me to Just Keep Climbing!!

It was wet, but it was not COLD.  And the poncho came off, and went back on, and came off and went back on depending upon whether the drizzle had abated or not.  Ponchos hold in a lot of heat, and this woman of a certain age is having trouble regulating her body temp as it is! HA!

My biggest worry was keeping the water out of my big camera.  Some of the photos in the slide show below will have spots on the lens.  It was just that kind of weather!


I wouldn’t have missed this for everything!

And I am so happy to have shared this day with some very special people.  It bonded us.  These are folks I will hold in my heart for a long long time.  I can’t think of Peru without thinking of them and the joy and excitement of discovery they also brought to this magnificent trip.


Watching on as our guide instructed us about the history of this amazing place.

To my Peru Peeps, wherever you are and whatever you are doing, thank you for sharing this awesome trip with me!

Click the image below if you are unable to view the slide show on your mobile device.  You’ll be taken to the photo album for viewing, but really – this is one slide show you will want to see on a large screen!

Machu Picchu, Peru Nov 2015



In real time, I’m in Raleigh today –two workshops ahead!

12274623_10153747788298909_177815459397148004_n

Capitol Quilters, Raleigh, NC!!

Last night’s quilt guild meeting was really great – you should have seen the parade of charity quilts that have been completed in ONE MONTH by this fabulous group!

12219594_10153747507148909_7288515527839861115_n

A bit of hotel sewing time!

I’ll be doing more sewing tonight after our Roll Roll Cotton Boll workshop from my book String Fling is done –tomorrow we have Texas Tumbleweeds up on deck – and that’s it for my 2015 year!  Hooray! 

What a way to end it with a bang --

Have a great Friday, everyone!


Click Here to like our Quiltville Friends Page on Facebook for more fun!

Click Here to join our sister group, Quiltville's Open Studio on Facebook, a place to Sew, Share & Grow!!

20 comments:

  1. Bonnie thank you for sharing all your wonderful photos of your trip to Peru. They are amazing a trip of a lifetime. I will never be able to go all the places you go, and I appreciate all the things you share with us.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tina in NJ8:40 AM EST

    Love your pics from Machu Pichu, Bonnie, but that's as close as I'll get to that magical place. I'm petrified of heights! I couldn't handle the Parthenon in Athens when I was in my early 30s; no way would I survive Machu Pichu!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous9:35 AM EST

    Please Bonnie, tell me, did the little bus still try to beat the bus down the mountain? If you saw him, You'll know what I mean.
    j

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous9:36 AM EST

    LIttle boy, not little bus!!!!!!!
    Joanne

    ReplyDelete
  5. I watched a show on TV about Machu Picchu a few months ago and was completely captivated. Looks like you had such a great time.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Such History! I've enjoyed travelling to Peru through your pictures. Thanks for all you share! ONE WEEK til the Mystery Starts, I'm not ready, yet, but I will be...

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've seen pictures of Machu Picchu before but nothing like THIS! I never realized it is so vast! I love the one of the Llama looking at you with his head tilted as if to ask "Are you gonna put me in a quilt?!" ha! Thank you, Bonnie, for sharing these beautiful photos with us!

    ReplyDelete
  8. It reminded me of Brigadoon, a city in the clouds that was sometimes there and sometimes not. Lovely pictures. Thank you for sharing so much of your life and your work. Like the llama you have encouraged me to climb especially in the area of quilting!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow what a gorgeous place. Thanks for sharing. Thats a trip I am not able to do since I only get about 3 hours walking/standing time a day due to a lower back injury. ekquilts (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  10. One of my list of places to visit! It sure looks like a fabulous time - thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have to admit, I'm a bit jealous of your trip to Machu Picchu!!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. merci de partager avec nous ces magnifiques photos quel bonheur !!! J' ai bien aimƩ les lamas ils ont l'air sympa. Bon retour chez toi, je t'embrasse

    ReplyDelete
  13. I walked the 4 days to MaChu Picchu, in 2002 very hard and very worthwhile. The sight from the sun gate was so overwhelming We were very lucky with the weather. It Isabella something I will always remember. kerrynconnor@westnet.com.au

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thank you, thank you Bonnie for sharing your amazing trip with us and your gorgeous pictures. I enjoyed iT very much and appreciated all your writing about iT also. You are one amazing lady.
    Happy quilting, Yoka Bazilewich

    ReplyDelete
  15. What an amazing trip. Your pictures are so stunning I can just imagine how awesome it must have been to be there in person. Thank you for sharing this most excellent adventure with us. As always, Bonnie, You Rock!!

    Loretta McGinn
    missmac831@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. wow... what a great deal of energy and stamina you must have. Thank you for sharing this fabulous adventure, at my time of life it's about the only way I'll get to experience it, so thank you so much.

    Now, on with the mystery clues!!! Well, when you get thru thanksgiving, I'm still looking for a few more paint chips...Cats

    ReplyDelete
  17. You are part of my day ,every day !! Very exciting!Thank you for sharing your life and of course your quilts.Godspeed!
    Irene
    Grammie158@gmail.com
    158 Oak Ridge Road Clifton NJ

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thank you for taking us along on your wonderful trip to Pery. The pictures are magnificent and I will also be doing a little historical searching, too. Glad to be a part of your Blog family.
    Lynne Royal
    Fort Worth, TX
    royal01@swbell.net

    ReplyDelete
  19. What a fabulous post! Thank you SO much!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Bonnie, the quality of your photos is amazingly clear. Thank you for sharing. Liz

    ReplyDelete

If you are commenting as "anonymous" please leave your name at the end of your comment.

Did you know that ad space on this blog provides for all of the free patterns and free mysteries and challenges at no cost to you? Without ads, this blog would not be possible.

Thank you for understanding the many hours that go into this blog 6 days a week, 52 weeks a year. :)