A Full Day of Culture, Connection, and Adventure!

6/21/25 Today was a full and beautiful day. I met up with Kelly and Todd—my Fulbright teammates for the week—and I’m genuinely excited about working and learning alongside them.

We started our morning with breakfast and then took a walk around the Promenade. It was bustling with activity—families, vendors, and locals out and about taking care of their Saturday errands. One thing that stood out was the incredibly long line at the bank. It barely moved! Angel, our local guide, explained that many people in this region of Peru still prefer in-person banking over online transactions, so it’s common to see long lines on weekends.

Afterward, we visited the Mercado, or local market, which was a highlight. The energy was vibrant, and the people were so kind. Many allowed me to take photos, which I truly appreciated as I continue documenting this experience.

We returned to the hotel for a short rest, then headed out for a late buffet lunch around 2:15 p.m. By 4:00, we were on a Big Bus tour that took us far beyond the city center—and I’m so grateful it did. We drove through stunning mountainous terrain that felt almost otherworldly. The colors, the sunset, the rock formations, and the textured ripples in the mountains under a glowing sky—it was all simply breathtaking.

Seeing the outskirts of Tacna gave us a deeper perspective on daily life for different families. We observed homes, shelters, and even small farming communities along the way. One of our stops featured fresh local cornbread, which was delicious. I also picked up an alpaca zip-up sweater because the air turned a bit chilly as evening set in.

Later in the tour, we visited a site with ancient petroglyphs — designs carved into the rocks that have been around for thousands of years. It was awe-inspiring to witness that kind of history up close.

Our final stop was a small winery for a tasting. Before we knew it, the day had come to a close—and we were fully exhausted, in the best way possible.

I’m especially grateful for our host teacher, who has been incredibly kind, generous with his time, and intentional in helping us have a meaningful experience. So far, so good—and my heart is full!