The Inca Trail / An Invitation...

Trudging through bouts of strong sun and cold rain, over steep and scenic Andean passes, TTS 19 embarked on the challenging and sacred Inca Trail pilgrimage with an adventurous group of parents, porters, and four expert guides, one of whom was the celebrated shaman/ everyone´s ¨bestie,¨ Puma. A 43 kilometer, 4 day trek deemed by one brave soul to be ¨tougher than childbirth,¨ the trail wound high above the Urubamba River, over the 13,860 ft. ¨Dead Woman´s Pass,¨ and through the breathtaking Incan ruins of Llactapata, Runkurakay, Sayamarca, Wiñay Wayna, Inti Punku, and finally Machu Picchu, one of the world´s wonders. Though feet, knees, and legs ached by the end, everyone finished strong- and most importantly- with a smile on their face and love in their hearts. It was an incredible personal accomplishment for all. Puma kicked off the adventure with an invitation to his family´s home where we took part in a weaving demonstration and traditional Andean smudging ceremony to clear any lingering anxiety or fear about the trek. After the trek, we spent a restorative night in Aguas Calientes where we took the most amazing shower of our lives, shopped, visited the hot springs, and enjoyed sleeping in a bed rather than a tent before returning to Cusco. TTS 19 took two different routes to Machu Picchu- one group hiked and rode on horseback over even higher passes and one group hiked the traditional Inca Trail. Parents who participated in both treks: please post to the blog about your experience and share all that you learned with our larger TTS 19 community! We would love to hear your story. To help inspire you, here are a few direct quotes from Puma, our Shaman guide, who sprinkled his wisdom onto all of us throughout the trek, keeping our spirits high and helping us find the strength needed to complete the tough trek:

¨Every thousandth of a second in life is sacred and a miracle...¨

¨In life, nothing is yours but everything is for you...¨

¨There is no word for religion or spirituality in the Andes, it is just life...¨

¨Your soul transcends all things and is a part of eternity...¨

¨Never say you are tired. You are too young to be tired, but it is ok if sometimes you are sleepy...¨

¨Climb a little bit past the mountain top because there is always a little bit more to go...¨

¨You are here to do service...¨

¨Everything you do for someone else, you are also doing for yourself...¨

¨You are never prepared but always ready...because each step prepares you for the next...¨

¨Life is a miracle and so are you...¨

And of course: ¨TODAY IS THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE!!¨

Parents who joined us on this life-changing pilgrimage, please post and share your stories!

With Love and Light,

TTS 19