Neal Bierling, Archaeological Adventures: Getting High in the Andes, my Birthday Celebration in Puno, Perus

Getting High in the Andres, Lake Titicaca and after the visit to Islas Uros and Isla Taquile.
My birthday surprise in Puno, Peru.

From the islands, it was another 2-hour boat ride back to Puno. We arrived back in Puno at sunset. In fact, the boat was heading almost due west into the sunset when the students were asked to leave the rooftop of the boat and come back inside. So, one student at least, since she showed me her results, had to shoot the sunset from inside. The lake, by the way, is at 12,500 feet.

We then had one hour before supper (7 pm), so we drove to the main plaza, another Plaza de Armas, where I and others shot the cathedral. The restaurant was right there so several of us used the bano (WC) facilities, which were appreciated since the boat’s bano was not the greatest. Once I used the bano, I invited the girls to use the men’s since it was empty and they had a long line (remember, 19 girls and only 3 guys), but no one took me up on it. Profe did and then the girls lined up at the men’s as well.

We walked around the area; I bought a bottle of Peruvian wine for my birthday celebration that evening back in the hotel where I noticed it was actually from Argentina, Malbec Merlot, which I buy at home at Aldi’s.

Lindsey's nice shot of me on Isla Uro

It was dark when we arrived at the Plaza and Cathedral

At 7 pm, we gathered for supper for which we had ordered specifics a week ago. I ordered an Avocado Salad, Alpaca Steak, and a Fruit Salad. Every Saturday, this restaurant has a dinner show, and tonight it was a group of local indigenous singers and dancers presenting their history of the birth of the Incan peoples and the history of what followed, including the Spanish Conquest. I recognized their God, their Adam and Eve, their descendants who were taught how to farm, and then the Conquest happened. A Conquistador came on stage bearing sword and cross, followed by a priest bearing a cross together bringing death, enslavement, and Christianity with the Virgin de la Candelaria. I photographed mucho.

Their Adam and eve

Learning how to weave

The Conquistadors Arrived

As did the priests

Enslavement of the Incas

They accept the Virgin

After the play, the group did a number of songs which I also shot video of, especially since I love the pan flute. Then, one of the main characters started reading from a notecard. I understood the word for birthday but not the pronunciation of my name. He was looking at me and called me unto the stage. The next number they played and swayed to with their flutes, guitars, and drum, I also swayed to. When this ended, the audience, including the Calvin student group, applauded. I gave umbrazos to the men and cheek-kissed the ladies and said thank you profusely. I also thanked the students for making this birthday very unique. After a couple of more numbers, one of the ladies came to me at our table, grabbed my hand to pull me up onto the stage again to dance with her. I think my moves were okay, and later I was joined by one of Calvin’s guys, and a third lady grabbed another audience member and together we finished the dance. What a Hoot! What a birthday party! Since I was unable to take the pictures, some of the students posted pictures on Facebook and some students sent them to me. It is their pictures below.