June 2018 started in the most stressful way possible with an oral exam, but after that was over and done with it was time to travel again – and this time to a new continent!
A birthday trip to Endelave
On June 14th, it was my grandmother’s birthday, but since Brandon and I were going to Peru on the 11th, we decided to celebrate it on the 2nd with a family trip to the island of Endelave. We spent four lovely hours on the island, exploring the village and surroundings, talking to locals, eating great food and enjoying each other’s company. For me, it was lovely to get a break from all the revising!
Endelave is a place that I need to come back to, as there’s a lot to see on the island. I’m thinking a bike and a tent during the summer, maybe next year?
Exam in the Iron Age
On June 6th, I had my last exam this semester, an oral exam in the Iron Age, which unfortunately is not where I’m strongest (I’m a Stone Age girl!). But it went alright and I received a 10 (B), and although I was a little disappointed in myself, I was so overly happy to finally be done and have summer holiday!
That exam marked the end of my full-time studies at the University of Copenhagen, as the next semester will be on Greenland, and I don’t plan on coming back to Copenhagen after that. I’ll still be studying at that university, but long-distance.
Thankfully, approximately one week and two weeks later, I got the results from my two written exams, where I received a 12 (A) in both, so those overshadowed the last grade.
Beautiful endings and fun times in Copenhagen
It wasn’t just my Copenhagen study life that came to an end in June – I also said goodbye to two of my part-time jobs at the National Museum of Denmark and the publishing company Bonnier Publications, where I’ve met the most incredible people who I hope to remain friends with for a long time! I was sad to say goodbye to both places, but this new upcoming beginning in Greenland feels right.
On June 9th, a few days before I left the country, I went to one of the best concerts of my life with some of my best friends in Copenhagen. Hollywood Vampires with Johnny Depp and Alice Cooper were playing in Tivoli in the center of Copenhagen and gave a great concert that I absolutely loved (despite the fact that I didn’t know the band until two days before the concert…)! Despite the crowd being less than festive, I had an awesome evening with my friends!
The next day, my brother arrived in Copenhagen and joined me at work at the Land of Legends, where we spent the day practicing our archery skills. In the evening, my friend Andras from the Faroe Islands came by and spent some quality time with us before he flew home to the islands.
A long stopover in Montreal
On July 11th, Brandon and I set off for Peru with a 23-hour stopover in Montreal, Canada, on the way! We arrived in Montreal in the afternoon and spent the rest of the daylight hours exploring the upper part of the city, climbing Mount Royal to get a view of the skyline and interact with hungry raccoons!
The next day, we got up early to explore downtown Montreal for a few hours, before heading to the airport to catch our flight to Lima. Montreal was a great beginning to our journey and definitely a recommendation-worthy city.
Welcome to South America!
On June 13th, Brandon and I landed in Lima, Peru, and seven hours later in the mountain city of Cuzco! For both of us, Peru was our first meeting with South America!
We both loved the lively city of Cuzco and enjoyed walking around there, exploring its quaint streets, restaurants and shops. On our second day, we went on a day trip to the Rainbow Mountain, which wasn’t as rainbow-coloured as we had hoped, but the area was absolutely breathtaking.
Via the Inka Trail to Machu Picchu
Three days into our stay in Cuzco, we met with the group of archaeologists that we were going to share the Inka Trail adventure with. Thankfully, I liked every one of them and that made the trip even greater.
Trekking the Inka Trail to Machu Picchu took four days of tough uphill climbing, easy downhill climbing, but hard as it was, it was totally worth it for the amazing views and interesting ruins that we saw on the way. Not to mention Machu Picchu, which was just as spectacular as I had imagined! I wouldn’t have liked to go to Machu Picchu without doing the Inka Trail trek, as I feel like that’s part of the experience, so I’m really glad that we all pushed through and did it!
Exploring and archaeological work in Lima
On July 22nd, the entire group of archaeologists + Brandon landed in Lima, where we would be working at a pyramid site for the next two weeks. I spent the weekend getting to know Lima and Miraflores, the district that we’re staying in. I went to two archaeological museums, explored the historic Central Lima, strolled through parks and fancy streets in Miraflores and bought more alpaca stuff at the Inka Plaza market. To be honest, I’m not a big fan of Lima, and my favourite part about it is our hostel cat, Pablo, who has claimed by bed!
On Monday the 25th, the work at the pyramid of Huaca Pucllana began! Unfortunately, the site has not yet gotten its digging permit, so we spent the first week sorting out ceramics from the site instead, which was also a good learning experience, although not what I had hoped to get out of the volunteer work. The second week proved to be more interesting and challenging, but that’s in July, so I’ll write about that next month!
The Nazca Lines and sand dune fun in Huacachina
At midnight on the last day of June, we set off for a weekend trip to the famous Nazca Lines, Huacachina, Islas Ballestas and Reserva de Paracas. We spent the entire night driving to Nazca with a one-hour stop to change two flat tires caused by the driver who drove over something sharp because he couldn’t figure out the fan to clear the dewed up windows… more about that whole ordeal in a later post!
At 8 AM, we finally arrived at the airport in Nazca, ready for our adventurous flights to see the lines from above, which is the only way they can be seen. Most scholars believe that the lines were created by the Nazca culture between 500 BC and 500 AD, but there are a ton of other theories, also the more crazy ones such as the alien theory, but more about that in a future post! Flying over the Nazca Lines was an outstanding experience that I won’t forget anytime soon! We saw so many lines and I got some great photos that I can’t wait to share here on the blog!
In the afternoon, we drove to Huacachina, an oasis in the middle of a desert near Ica. Here, we spent the evening driving sand buggys and sand boarding in the dunes (which was so much fun!) and eating delicious vegan food at our luxury hostel/resort. June ended in the most perfect way.
Destinations visited in June 2018
- Copenhagen, Lejre, Hov and Endelave, Denmark
- Montreal, Canada
- Cuzco, Rainbow Mountain, Inka Trail, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Lima, Nazca, Ica, Huacachina, Peru
Highlights
- Getting a 12 (A) on both my written exams!
- The Hollywood Vampires concert!
- Exploring Endelave with my family.
- Seeing raccoons in downtown Montreal.
- Trekking the Inka Trail to Machu Picchu with great friends.
- Exploring Cuzco and watching the festivities.
- Meeting Pablo the Cat in Lima.
- Flying over the Nazca Lines!
- Buggy ride and sand boarding in the sand dunes in Huacachina.
Challenges
- The oral exam – glad it’s over now! No more Iron Age 😉
- Missing our original flight to Cuzco, as the time had been pushed back with no notification…
- My brother got bit by a dog in Cuzco, so we had to start rabies treatment for him.
- Day two of the Inka Trail – OH MY LEGS!
- The bus ride from hell to Nazca.
Most popular post
- Bridgewalking over the Little Belt Strait in Denmark – An adventurous day on a bridge between Funen and Jutland!
The other posts
- Sunset over Norsminde Harbour – A short evening trip to Norsminde turned into this photo post.
- My May 2018: Exams and a field trip to Greece – Everything that happened in May!
- A long weekend on idyllic Öland – An introduction to my beautiful trip to the Swedish island of Öland.
- Roadtrip through the wild and rugged northern end of Öland – A post about my favourite part of Öland!
Most popular Instagram picture
A picture of me on the way to Rainbow Mountain in all of my new alpaca gear!
Coming up in July 2018
I have one week left here in Peru, where I’ll be working at the excavation in Lima and enjoying the afternoon with my new friends and cat. On the 7th, Brandon and I are leaving Peru after a month and heading to Toronto for an eight-hour stopover, where I’ll be showing him around the city.
Two days after we get back, I’m off to Tunbridge Wells in England for a few days to visit my good friend Bethann, who’s visiting her aunt. Bethann is from Australia and I haven’t seen her since we travelled to Ireland together for New Years 2015/16 (2,5 years!!). I can’t wait to see her and to meet her aunt!
Until July 26th, I’ll be working at the Land of Legends, and then I’m off to my beloved Faroe Islands for ten days of camping, hiking and festivities at Ólavsøka with my friend Amanda!
Needless to say, July is going to be an awesome month!
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