Prolonged periods of heavy rain have led to severe flooding and landslides in the Province of Cusco, which continues to be in a state of emergency. Although much of the press has been focused on Machu Picchu, many other low lying areas as the Sacred Valley have been severely affected.

However, the city of Cusco is operating as normal - virtually no damage was suffered within the city, with the exception of some poorer residential zones on the outskirts. All flights to Cusco are operating and most road links too. Key damages in the surrounding areas include all road and rail links with Aguas Calientes, which left 2,000 tourists stranded in the town. All tourists have now been evacuated safely, but Machu Picchu remains accessible only by helicopter. Therefore all train tours and treks dependant on Machu Picchu are closed until further notice. The Inca Trail will not be open until 1st March at the earliest, and all other tours and treks will open once a transport link between Cusco and Aguas Calientes is established. All tours independent of Machu Picchu are running as usual.

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Due to heavy rains, the Cusco area and surrounding regions have experienced flooding, mudslides and bridge outages that have severely affected transportation in several sectors. Services and travel affected include the trains to Machu Picchu, which are not currently running due to damage to the rails; all hikes to Machu Picchu are also suspended. Some areas of the Sacred Valley (the road to Pisaq) are also unpassable though alternate routes have been opened. Within the city of Cusco, services are in normal operation (with exception of flights suspended or delayed during heavy rains). Mudslides have been experienced in some of the steeper, surrounding hills.

There are currently 10 AMAUTA students + a staff member stuck in Aguas Calientes. We are in constant contact with them and we know there are all fine. The spirit is good and they all have a hostal, food and water and are in good conditions. The government expects to get all people out of Aguas Calientes in a max. of 4 days with helicopters. Preference is given first to older people, people with health problems and mothers with children. People will be evacuated by Helicopter from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and from Ollantaytambo to Cusco, by bus. We are assured the whole rescue operation is for free and that rumours about people being charged for being taken to Cusco, are not true.

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One big joke… on you. But definitely an experience not to be missed!

If you are new to the traveling world, things can seem a little but crazy at first. I know that when I began traveling there were a lot of things I had to get accustomed to. From the irregularity of the bus system to the lack of streets signs, South America at times feels like one big joke…on you. To make a long story short, the fundamental character of traveling (especially in South America) is that of unpredictability. For those of you who are a little stressed or anxious about what lies ahead, here are some things to keep in mind on your first journey into the unknown.

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Christmas in Cusco - this means Christmas lights, hot chocolate and Paneton all around the city.

During this time of year Cusco is bright and busy, full of small Christmas markets and people getting into the Christmas spirit. Every Sunday morning plazas are filled with locals and people shopping for Peruvian gifts, textiles, incense and candles. But still, no comparison to all the stressed out people running and hysterically looking for Christmas gifts. The Peruvians do really enjoy the Christmas time as a period to meet their beloved friends and family and enjoy the Christmas spirit.

Christmas in Cusco is characterized by the birth of Jesus and this is depicted in the numerous Nacimientos found outside all the churches in town – 3D constructed murals of Nativity scenes with Jesus, Mary and other deciphels. Every church and almost every Cusceno household has one of these, and in the weeks leading up to Christmas, plants and pieces for these murals are sold on the streets and in markets. Most Peruvians are Catholics and churches can be found on almost every block in Cusco. Andeans have a strong religious devotion and Christmas is found to take on elements of traditions of each region of Peru. Further in the Andes festivities often continue for two weeks, until the “arrival of the three wise men”.

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A winter wonderland without the winter

The weeks leading up to Christmas in Buenos Aires bring a set of cultural traditions which many people from the northern hemisphere will find reassuringly (or depressingly, depending on your view) familiar. On the one hand, similarities with the ways in which the Christmas festival is celebrated elsewhere should not be surprising given the particularly strong European influence in Buenos Aires (the origins of which lie in the unprecedented waves of immigration which occurred in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century), as well as the ever-increasing global comercialisation of La Navidad. However, while the decor in the temporary Christmas shops which pop up across the city speak of colder climes, with snowdrops, Christmas trees, icicles, fairy lights and the like, the weather gives the spectacle a wholly different ambience. The start of December brings much warmer and humid weather to the city, encouraging porteños to spend more time outdoors in the plazas, the gardens and terrazas of its countless bars and restaurants. Whilst in colder parts of the world the people tend to hibernate for the harsher winter months, the arrival of Christmas in Buenos Aires brings a summery spirit and positivity. Moreover, this is when the city really comes alive in a cultural sense, hosting numerous national and international music, food/drink, theatre and film festivals. There’s certainly no shortage of things to do in Argentina at this time of year, which can be especially comforting for extranjeros (or foreigners) spending Christmas away from friends and families back home. (www.couchsurfing.org is also a great resource for meeting Argentines and foreigners who are looking to spend Christmas with other people in Buenos Aires; a kind of adopted family Christmas experience!)

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Do not miss the opportunity to study Spanish in Cusco during the magical time of Christmas and experience a different way of celebrating this holiday!

THE AMAUTA Christmas Program includes extra activities such as a visit to the unique Santurantikuy, the Andean Christmas market. We will also visit several churches where you can observe the impressive, traditional Nacimientos, which are representations of the birth of Jesus. The program includes a Traditional Christmas Dinner with a Peruvian Family, a unique cultural immersion.

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Cusco is a major tourist destination because it was once the capital of the Inca Empire. With its ancient architectural/archeological sights, suitable weather, bargain services, kind hearted people, and it being the central point for all Sacred Valley excursions you are bound to find something that you like. A perfect place to spend a few weeks – or even months – and study Spanish!

With it being the central point of tourism in Peru there are plenty of people to meet to make your adventure worthwhile. You can hike or bike Inca trail to get to Machu Picchu or the less tourist populated places like Choquequirao and Moray; all accessible by way of Cusco.

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The extensive parks in Palermo, also known as the Bosques de Palermo, are a perfect place to sleep off the exploits of the night before but they also offer much more to the visitor during the weekends. Porteños flock to the gardens with their family and friends to stroll around the lakes, people watch, drink mate or to get involved in the myriad other activities taking place there.

The wealthy northern barrios of Buenos Aires incorporating Belgrano – where AMAUTA Spanish School is located - , Palermo and Recoleta are well endowed with green spaces, large plazas and recreational areas. Delving into the history of the city provides clues as to why the barrios in the north host these large parks, which today cover some 62 acres. The city has been marked by a clear geographical divide in terms of distribution of wealth (and as a consequence, quality of environment) from the mid-1800s, between the barrios in the north and those in the south (namely La Boca, San Telmo and Constitución).

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It’s impossible for me to tell how important something as nervous, challenging, dangerous and yet adventurous traveling to another country! Let alone that country and that community to be Cuzco, Peru. A place on the globe that I frankly no nothing about. I was content to a degree in the place I was before i made the trip here; Chicago Illinois, is the place I called home just a few days ago yet somehow Cusco Peru was calling me too. September 26th is when i arrived in Cusco after a quite pleasant twenty hour bus ride on “Cruz de Sur” from Lima. Greeted with just the unknown I can say I was more than nervous! Armed with the knowledge of knowing how to count to twenty, say hello, goodbye, thank you, and how much is it.

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Living in a new place is hard. But learning a new language is a whole different ball game. I know from personal experience how difficult it can be. This is the second time I have set up shop in a foreign country. Two years ago I lived in Athens, Greece. Even though I was there for four months, I left the country with barely any understanding of the language. To make matters even worse, I had been taking Greek language classes at a school. You might be thinking, how could this happen? Who lives in a place, studies the language, and still does not learn anything? Well, I can tell you how: I was too scared to ever speak in public. As you can expect, my failure to learn Greek, came as a big disappointment. So this time around, when I finalized my plans to move to Buenos Aires, I promised myself that things would be different. I would learn from my past mistakes.

I have been here for a little bit over a month, and I can already see the difference speaking in public has made for my comprehension of the Spanish language. Where as in Greece I never opened my mouth, here in Buenos Aires I am sure to speak Spanish at any opportunity. When I go to the Supermercado or to the “verdulería” I try to make conversation with the workers. Even if we just talk for two minutes or I simply ask “¿cómo estás?” or “¿cuánto cuesta?” I feel accomplished after speaking en espanol. Just the other day, I stopped by my favorite Fruteria to pick up some mandarinas, and ended up talking to the store owner for ten minutes. We covered all the basics–¿de donde es? cuanto tiempo querés quedarte?–and he gave me the time I needed to respond effectively in Spanish.

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