en route to peru, through the andes -

i saw so many incredible things looking out the windows of the many buses we took to get to huanchaco, peru from loja, ecuador. i saw large orange birds, full feathered and quick, black-winged birds flying through unbelievably massive mountains, free floating in the sky from wind, green mountains with heavy set folds, like a woman's thighs, yellow specks of butterflies everywhere. black cows, brown pigs, stray dogs and donkeys, crosses marking fatal car crashes, and faded political propoganda. when we were approaching the border to peru, a man in green army attire came into the bus and went through everyone's passports. his fingers were so thick. he had white, splotchy skin and he grabbed my passport and said "okay" when he was finished with whatever he was doing. his friend, in a matching outfit, stood behind him on the bus and stared at me. i looked away out the window, then looked back hoping his gaze would be gone. but it wasn't.

the bus today en route to lima was along the coast, not through the mountains. the pacific ocean is so beautiful, and we rode along the cliffs and could see waves crashing and the sun was starting to set. now we are in lima, tonight i am staying with ereek's family, tomorrow we will hopefully be staying with zafa. i am meeting up with carla tomorrow night, from the women's collective Contras Naturas. we head to cusco on thursday.