Why I Enjoyed Peru So Much

Edward and Kevin Viljoen on Machu Picchu

This great testimonial from one of our travelers reminds me that we're going to Peru again in 2018!  If you would like to have more information about Spirit Tour's pilgrimage to Peru with Dr. Edward Viljoen, author of Ordinary Goodness, please visit us at Spirit.Tours.


Dear Dr Edward Viljoen,

It is with great pleasure that I write to thank you for helping make my trip with Spirit Tours to Peru this past summer both heart warming and memorable. As you may remember, I joined the Center for Spiritual Living, Palm Desert under the leadership of Dr Joe Hooper at a time when my life seemed to have been shrouded in darkness. My sister had passed away after a long and painful battle with cancer and my personal and professional relationships had suffered in the process.

When Dr Joe recommended that I join his group on this trip, at first, I was hesitant. Visions of sitting around a candle and chanting almost kept me from calling to book the travel. Had I sat in my ignorance, I would have missed the tremendous gift that was waiting for me in Peru. The effortless travel in the most idyllic settings of ancient cultures lended itself to a nurturing environment that helped me start the process of forgiveness and spiritual growth. I remember sitting in our group meditation practices, peeking through one eye at fellow travelers who I later got to befriend and share in their own spiritual journey, thinking I'm not alone in my pain. There were others from all walks of life who sought comfort and guidance in their times of need. Some had lost a husband, a father, a career. Some had a void that needed to be filled, a wound that needed healing or something that needed to be addressed and mended.

Ara and Dr. Joe in Peru

You, Dr Joe and the family at Spirit Tours made me feel at ease in sharing my challenges. The daily group spiritual growth practices helped set the stage for several life lessons that I was about to learn and that I keep with me to this day. Most of all, I remember the release and levity I felt when I realized that just like the giant granite stones that were perched on top of mountains at soaring altitudes, there are structures and circumstance in my life that are both unexplainable and unknowable; but also, that not knowing how or why things are, doesn't keep us from basking in its beauty and sharing in wonderment of how we are all connected.

So, to anybody who is hesitating in joining us in this shared spiritual journey, please consider my first experience in making your decision. If you want to take a spiritual vacation at a leisurely pace along people who seek a connection with beautiful places in the world, then, all you have to do is pack lightly and show up, the rest will be taken care of by Spirit Tours and the amazing practitioners that come along. I look forward to walking with you in your journey.

Yours Truly,

Ara Gabrielian

Spirit Tours in Peru - Temple of the Sun

The trek to the top of The Temple of the Sun is worth it, especially when you get back down and look up at the splendid route you just completed.  Here our 2015 group, lead by Lori Furbush, Qigong instructor, celebrate an amazing exploration of some of the world's most unique ruins. 

Although strenous, the circular route up to the top of The Sun Temple, has many places to pause and rest to catch breath and take in the view.  On the way down, notice the amazing water system, but pay attention to where you're stepping though!

The view of the Sacred Valley from the top is dramatic and beautiful.

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Why is Quinoa so Popular? My Tour To Peru

On our recent tour to Peru I had the best vegetable cheese quinoa soup. As I traveled from Cusco along the Urubamba river and through the Sacred Valley on the way to Machu Picchu, every buffet and every menu in every restaurant offered at least one quinoa dish. When I got home I decided to research quinoa and the Peruvian people to find out why it is so popular.

The use of quinoa dates back 5000 years and was a staple of the Incan diet. In fact the Incan's called it "chesiya mama" the mother grain. At the solstice, Inca priests bearing golden vessels filled with quinoa made offerings to Inti, the sun.  After the European conquest the growth of quinoa was suppressed because of the religious significance to the Incas. Despite European supression, Incans continued to grow it in small amounts and today the popularity of quinoa has spread through out the world.

Quinoa is rates a "super food"

Nutritional quality of Quinoa is comparable to dried milk (FAQ, Food and Agricultural Organization) and is a source of complete protein.  It is widely used to make flour, soup, breakfast cereal, and even alcohol.

Quinoa is gluten free.

A perfect food for anyone afflicted by wheat allergies, easily digestible, and a perfect base for vegetarian dishes. Quick cooking, it holds well, and blends nicely with a wide variety of ingredients

Source http://www.peruthisweek.com/

The Popularity of Quinoa not all good

In an article http://www.democratandchronicle.com/ the author indicates that the surge in popularity of quinoa has made farming it far more profitable than it had been in the past, meaning a far better standard of living for quinoa farming families and their communities. However, some media reports say, this windfall comes with mixed blessings.

Higher prices have made the food more expensive to natives, and the pressure to ramp up production and acreage means means other types of beneficial farming such as llama livestock, which fertilize the soils where quinoa grows, have been abandoned to ride the quinoa wave.

It was on the table for all our meals on My Tour To Peru and now want to make quinoa a staple at our family table in Santa Rosa, California.

Do you have a favorite quinoa receipt that you can share with me?