This is what I wrote to family and friends after we had checked into our Miami hotel...

FROM MIAMI, FL

Hello, everybody. We arrived this afternoon in a soggy Miami (2.2 inches of rain so far). Which turns out is only a fraction of the deluge this state has been getting today (over 8 inches in the last 24 hours in a town called Cooper City, or something like that).  It seems everywhere we go we find rain.  But then we also help stop it.  So maybe Miami will also start drying out by tomorrow...

It's strange that arriving in a city strange city 6,000 miles away from our home at the Rainbow Shower can feel like homecoming. But it did. Guess that's what one's country soil means, far or near.

On our flight north of Lima, we had an extraordinary fortune. Mt. Huaskaran, the Peruvian Andes' tallest peak at 22,100 ft, took its vail for me for the first time. Like Mont Blanc, Europe's highest peak we crossed last September, Huaskaran is usually quite elusive, shrouded in clouds, especially during the rainy season.  I had never seen it before today except in pictures. It was special honor, as this Apu also my personal benefactor (spirit guide), along with its female expression, Collyor Nusta.  I was in awe of its beauty and size (see below). 

I know from my past personal exchanges with this Apu that its spirit's power and ageless wisdom far exceed the mountain's physical size. So I felt honored to be one of its disciples.

The flight home was also a good opportunity to recap lessons learned from this trip.  One message from the Apus (mountain spirits) stands out above all. 

"Leave behind your material world's attachments when you come to commune with us." 

So I am also offering it to my fellow-shamans around the world on an "for what it's worth basis."

The Apus delivered this message in a series of unmistakable signs..

First, by rejecting technology in the mountains. Both last year and this time around, I had trouble connecting to the Internet with my laptop. This year, they actually disabled its motherboard before I myself broke the rest of it into pieces at the start of our journey in Lima. Those were two signs that both, a shaman friend from Washington, DC and Elizabeth pointed out independently, confirming my intuition, too.

Second, the Apus hit Elizabeth like a ton of bricks - two illnesses and one nose bleed in less than a week. She has never been sick like that as long as I have known her.  A lesser woman would have collapsed under such stress.  But Elizabeth has been a real trouper in handling the adversity. That´s because her spirit is stronger than her body.  But we need to bring the two in balance.  That´s what yin-yang is, as you know.

So Elizabeth has had quite an initiation in the mountains.  As one of my early shaman guides put it, "they will chew you up and spit you out if you´re not tough enough. But they will also carry you if you show them love and respect."  Elizabeth has overcome tremendous challenges.  But I´d rather her not have to. Which means she will be coming with me on easier trips away from the Andes, and I will be doing the tougher ones on my own.  She agreed.  She is back to 100% now that we are close to the ocean again.

We are off to LA in the morning and then on to Maui in late afternoon.  Two 5-hour flights should give us plenty of time for additional contemplations. Hope you have a wonderful Groundhog Day.

Love

Bob

Miami-Los Angeles-Maui

The next morning, the rain had stopped. Miami was basking in bright sunshine again as we left for Los Angeles.  During a long layover at LAX, I took a picture of the magazines at an airport newsstand (right).

"Where have all the men gone?" I remember wondering while looking at this extraordinary sight.  Looks like America has become a totally effeminate society.  And women are the target audience for these magazines!?  "Don't they want to see good looking men?"

Guess not, judging by the images the magazine editors idolize.

John Wayne, Cary Grant, Gary Cooper, Humphrey Bogart... where are you when America needs you ?

Anyway, we got home safely and on time.  And that's all she wrote from this trip to Peru.

Epilogue: Letter from Peru

I have also just received a letter from Liz, my shaman-friend, hotel manager who made all our travel arrangements in Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas.  I want to share it with you here by way of an Epilogue to our trip:

Feb 27, 2010

Dear Bob,

How are you... hope you and Elizabeth are very well. Here in Peru everything is ok.

The tourist are back again and the weather also is good with sun and some rains that already are finishing and the trails and rails to Machu Picchu are restored, and of course, people are working hard to open it as soon as possible.  As you know. this region lives on tourism... that is the main resource.

So my dear friend, we want your help... that you communicate to all your friends that Peru, Cusco, Valley and Machu Picchu are safe for travel.  Groups are coming as normal in March.

Some people may think that we are still leaving in an emergency... which is not true.  Now we are ok and working hard.

Of course, in this last disaster we, the people, were guilty.  First because we are not taking care of Pachamama (Mother Earth), and second. we are building houses on the river. The river needs  its space…

Munay

Love and Peace

Liz

Also check out...

2009

• The Altomesayok Journey (May-June 2009)

2008

• Communing with Holy Mountains in Peru (June-July 2008)

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