Now I thought Italian drivers were scary. But this was on a whole other level. Yes, I take taxis here every day, but because we're in the city it's a lot of stop-and-go. And even if I'm almost in an accident about 75% of the time I'm in a taxi here, there's still no comparison to a Peruvian driver on the open, winding, mountainous road. And to top it off, Gab and Leesh get motion sickness. Woo hoo!
When I could look out the window and NOT wonder if we were going to drive off the road, the scenery was breathtaking. I've been through the Sacred Valley a bunch of times, but the views never get old. These are the moments I have to pinch myself to remember that I LIVE IN PERU. Hell yeah.
We made our way to the stone shop Niki recommended and as soon as we walked in I was overwhelmed by the energy. The room was loaded with stones piled everywhere, various types of quartzes, amethysts, etc. I was immediately drawn to a large smoky quartz (about the length of my hand and half the width) shaped like an obelisk. I picked it up and fell to my knees. The power of the stone was so intense that I just had to sit there for a while. Gab was intent about finding a didge first, so we eventually left the shop, promising to return within the hour (and I asked the shaman who ran the shop to hold this quartz for me).
It wasn't long before we found her didge. Karen, a woman Gab had met once before, owns a shop that sells various handmade jewelry and instruments -- including didgeridoos. Gab found hers immediately. We spent a little time there letting Gab get to know her new baby and after she bought it (for only 150 soles), we went back to the stone shop.
Gabs on her new didge
(from left to right: Miguel (with the car), Humberto, and Gabs)
My quartz was 120 soles (about $40) but I didn't have enough money on me. I started to look for something smaller and less expensive but was having no luck. The shaman also knew that I wouldn't find anything else because, as he said, "when it's your stone, it's your stone." He told me I could pay him the next time I came to Pisac, so I left him with 50 soles and a promise to return soon.
Gab chose an amethyst and the shaman offered to clean our stones for us, going through a ceremony of blowing smoke and rose water over them. As he was doing this to mine, I felt another surge of emotion/energy and had to sit down again. I began to cry and Gab put her (extremely energetic) hands on me and held the space for me, letting me get out whatever was coming to the surface. She also experienced some strong emotions when the shaman cleaned her stone and we both left the shop exhausted and a little emotionally drained (and cleared).
The rains started to come, so we bunkered down at the Blue Llama, a favorite restaurant of ours when we're in Pisac. We took over all the comfy couches and chairs and had a fantastic 2-hour lunch, playing Jenga and talking. With my new stone in my pocket, I was so steady and grounded that Humberto couldn't win a single game of Jenga against me, as much as he tried to sabotage my every turn.
Me kicking Hum's butt in Jenga
Miguel taking a nap at the Blue Llama
Humberto and Jenga
We opted to go home instead of Moray, as the rain would make the visit unpleasant and muddy. We got home around 3 and collapsed. It's amazing how much energy a day like that can take out of you.
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