Shaman at South American Explorers club
Cusco was a great fun place as well as a very interesting place. I spent three months there and really enjoyed my time and the friends that I made. During the week I worked in Juan Pablo Orphanage and helped to teach the children there and at weekends I joined with friends and trekked around the Sacred Valley. At the time the South American Explorers club was run by Mary Finn an effervescent active American Lady who was full of useful information about any of the treks I wished to take and made travelling around very easy for me. Mary organised a shamanic cleansing ceremony to bless the clubhouse and an old Shaman came down from the mountains. He sang songs, burnt paper, wrapped lots of little things into a gift and put it on Mary’s head and blessed us all. The ceremony involved chicha a fermented drink, beers, shells, mother earth (Pacha Mama), herbs and flowers. Peru has a tradition of longstanding Shamanic Healers. I became a Fallen Angel as I ate regularly in the restaurant of that name. Flying pigs, baths as tables with goldfish swimming as you eat on top of the bath, the love heart couch, tiger seats, brass framed day beds, cupids with penises and, of course, a silvery angel. The ladies toilet is heaven all glamour and glitter and the gents toilet is hell all red and dark and fiery. Of course I went to the annual party wouldn’t have missed it for the world! Great memories with Mary, Penny, Nancy and Lisa.
