Our last day in Peru

Today is our last day in Peru. We are now in Paracas, south of Lima. It is a desert and the devastation of the previous decades earthquake is very noticeable. This place makes me scared...Scared of a future with no water for only but a few. Life without water is of a very very low quality. I will visit the Nazca lines alone today. these ae the shapes/carvings that are in the desert of Nazca, by the pre-Incan cultures of Nazca. They can only be seen from overhead, and they are of animals and insects mostly. Some think they were made for Aliens to see. some think they were made for the shamans to see while astral traveling in ceremony. some say they are elaborate maps to waterways under ground. Perhaps all three.

Before leaving the sacred valley we spent a week in Pisac. Giancarlo met an organic farmer and worked a bit, planting seeds. I married a farmer, and I love him! We also made friends with a family who ran the hotel we were staying at. We taught the older boy and girl Capoeira. They had a hairless Incan dog (very very strange looking, used by the Incan shamans to help divine).This family has just lost their home in the floods of February. It happened at night. the river started flowing in the town. They spent the night on the roof of their house. Everything was filled with mud and water. The house saved their life. but everything was gone. It is amazing to realize just how impermanent it all is. Whether it be a flood, a death or a divorce; things that we think are forever never are.

Last week were were in Mach Picchu. It was so amazing. the location of that place is powerful, and intentionally so. Giancarlo said, "I feel hopeful knowing that humans can make something of this scale that is total in alignment with the earth. " The Incan's spent 60% of their work energy planning how to deal with water, and 40% planning and building the rest. Khalil and I played hide and go seek, and this is THE BEST PLACE for hide and go seek. We stayed in a place that did bear rescue, and had amazing birds and moths everywhere. It was magical

The kids are so excited to go home. We will be seeing you all soon, and then we will be in part 2, travels to the east.Love Love Love

Nuria and Familia

Peru

And So..We are now in Cuzco, the heart of the Incan empire. A city of 300,000. A place where tourism has moved from 05-85 % of the local economy in less than 20 years. The altitude has been kicking our butts. Fortunately the kids have been fairing much better than us grown ups. WE are feeling a bit lost in this sea of history, where the old has been so violently displaced and the new is so terrifically insane. We are tourists pay money to walk the vary same trails that the local Quetchua people have to walk daily in order to transport food, wares and get to school.

We walked up to 14, 500 feet and spent a long night battling feeling the change in our blood, as our heads pounded and our nausea flirted with us. We are plotting our next moves but very uncertain still. Perhaps the jungle, perhaps an organic farm outside of Pisaq, perhaps staying in Cuzco? Included are some old pictures from the waterfall and some new ones from the ruins, asalt mine, and some water that is flowing in the AMAZING water systems that the Incas created more than 500 years ago and is still flowing (our pipes last what 60 yrs if we are lucky). Love to everyone. We think of home often and miss our family.

We are now in Perenopolis. A beautiful small town in the interior of Brazil. We have said goodbye to the beach for now, and tomorrow we will visit a permaculture center and ecovillage that I we have wanted to visit for more that 7 years now.

Before we left we went to Porto do Galinha a beautiful beach south of Recife and had an amazing time swimming in the oh so hot water.

We had a great time drumming in Recife and purchased some beautiful drums.

Today we went to an amazing waterfall and ate the most incredible food of our LIVES. Khalil had another encounter with the wasps and got stung five times. It was crazy. He really went into shock, but then walked with us to the waterfall and felt so much better after being in the cold water.

Goodbye to the big city. We will travel to Peru to meet up with Sophia soon and our internet access is ocassional at best so...we will try to keep in touch but it is getting harder.

Keep dancing and Making Music everyone.

Much love to everyone.

So. We are now in Recife and missing Canoa quebrada. So much that nuria is thinking about going back for a week with the kids. Life at the beach is sweet, especially out of the city. either way, we all feel more connected now that the classes are over, it is easier to tap into a routine together as a family, Nuria is less distracted with her new learning passion, and well that just makes everyone a bit more relaxed. Of course we are at the home of Maracatu and now it is time to get busy playing music!!!!!

We will start our search for instruments today and try to connect with a group. Mestre Mago is in Italy until next week, so we will take this time to focus on the drumming. So exciting!!!!!

The last week in Canoa Nuria did a dance film project with her friend Sri, it was really ambitious, really beautiful and really funny. I have included a few photos. Khalil has mede a new friend at the place we are staying now, a boy his age named Celvin. Sweety. They like to swim in the pool at sunset.Aya cried when she left Canoa, she misses the dod dalila and her new friend Lily, it was so beautiful and sad to witness. I do believe that this kind of experience is positive, helps one to carpe dium you know?

Well, here we are again, week four in Canoa Quebrada. The kids are swimming here every day, in the pool at our pousada and in the ocean, so they are getting very comfortable in the water, yeah! As you can see from the images, Khalil Caetano is testing gravity and momentum as he propels himself into the pool. And Ayamila is fully loaded with safety to keep her head above water; goggles are a godsend! Protecting the eyes from the STING allows for alot of exploration in the agua! We had a Karaoke night, sponsored by Nuria Productions which was a big success. Everyone got to lounge around on the mats sing along to some classics. It was a late night... On the left-hand bottom is a picture of the family and our friend Sri Louise as we departed last Sunday to a nearby town called Aracati. The whole town was closed down except for the bank and the big grocery store, our only two stops. The kids have been really great explorers and willing going on evening excursions to town to get Acai, a real treat! Included is a shot of a large Prosopis juliflora, commonly called a Mesquite tree. This large specimen resides in front of the local circus school. I have been collecting the sweet seed pods to snack on and Neil now has me on a botanical mission to collect voucher specimen so he can classify the species. On the top of the page is the one and only, Ayamila with one of her newest buddies, Josaphina, the rescued street kitten making a healthy come back. The kids play with her and the puppy, Dalila, everyday.
From the infinite to the intricate...we are all interwoven, different strings creating the fabric of existance... Love Familia DaTerra.

PUPPY LOVE!!!!

Another week has gone by, and we are really sinking into the grove of life here. I had a run in with the runs last week which meant that i missed an opportunity to go out with GC, but I recovered fast so all is well. There was a fun party in which everyone drank fancy mixed drinks in pineapples, and my friend Sri started a soultrain, wherein she in her fabulous vegan bootyshorts proceeded to instruct us all how to get freaky. HILARIOUS!!!!

In the fence next to the place we are dancing there was a litter of puppies, one of which came to live at the place we are staying. Aya is so happy. The kids are swimming every day and getting very good at it. It is exciting to see how repetition brings mastery. For Real!!!

Last night we went on an epic horseback ride. I rode with Aya, and Khalil rode with our friend Natalie. Both kids were so brave, especially Aya who had to change horses with me because our first horse started to buck us off. That did not dissuade Aya, no not our most powerful princess warrior. Giancarlo met up with us in a dune buggy, and then he rode on a horse, while they returned into the car. Galloping on the beach under the stars has got to be one of the great pleasures of life. I was reminded of a time in my life when I would ride almost every day. I miss that. Of course I will be remembering the ride for a while since I am bruised on my pubic ramus and inner thighs. This week we will take rope again, I am so excited because giancarlo is in the class as well this time.

I was invited to participate in a womans capoeira event in Recife this weekend. I am torn about going or not, it would mean an overnight bus ride there and back for one day of the event....feels a bit crazy and yet, when else will I have the opportunity to check out a womans event in Brazil? I am attaching some photos for your pleasure. I love and miss you all deeply.