Peruvian Ponderings from 1981 and 2018 with Kathy Spirtes

As part of our Wintertide Read and Ramble: Pathways of Peru 2019 programming, Cotuit’s own Kathy Spirtes will tell of her travels to Peru on two ocassions.

Kathy Spirtes traveled to Peru in 1981 on a three week adventure that included seeing Machu Picchu, the Nazca Lines, Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca and several ruins in the Cuzco area.  She returned to Peru in 2018 for a four day trek in the Lares Region. The major difference between the two trips was the interactions with local people. The 1981 trip was led by a British guide and the 2018 trip was led by several Quechua (Inca descendants) guides.  During the Lares trek she met a number of Quechua people in their homes or along the trail, even spending a night in a family home along the trail. She is amazed that at 64 she did a much more strenuous as they hiked over two 14,000 foot passes. Kathy pondered and is still pondering who 28 year-old Kathy was back in 1981 and how she now relates to the 64 year-old who went to Peru in 2018.  

This program is free but please register at cotuitlibrary.org/events or contact the Library.