Diary extracts from Wayqecha

Ive been hard at work in the University in Cuzco in the last two days. And apart from the discovery of a shop that sells proper coffee (and freshly baked pastries) around the corner there isn't much to report. So here are some short extracts from my diary while I was at Wayqecha:
Day 8 "...soon we hit the proper mountain roads, climbing steeply and turning frequently. The views got more spectacular the higher we rose ... There were some remarkable things to note from our journey. The first was the extent to which people go to farm land. In some places it seemed impossible to stand up, never mind tend a field of maize! The second was the change in vegetation, from the arid Cuzco things got drier and more desert-like until we suddenly came over the top of the mountain and reached the lush wet cloud forest"
Day 11 "...my day started with a 6am wake up to do some birdwatching, sadly it was a cold, damp and misty morning and few birds were seen...I walked to the forest in full climbing kit, and we prepared to climb a pre-rigged tree. [After 4 hours] this was the situation, the tree contained 2 50m ropes with the wrong ends suspended at 20ft, one complete throwline/throwbag and box, one more throwbag and a role of tape on 10m of string...and it was raining by this stage. We saved the day by taping together 2 bamboo sticks and the catapult head, and retrieving the bag/box/line set, then rigging and climbing. After 5 hours we had got back to square one"
Day 14 " Today we made our first serious attempt at collecting bromeliads. The first was a short climb to a pretty little Tillandsia. It was successfully bagged, tagged and I felt really pleased... With some innovative rope usage and more climbing we quickly aquired 11 specimens"
Day 18 "Professor Miles Silman and his class arrived. With them came bread and chocolate cake." In the field the chocolate cake was a particular highlight because sweet foods were generally off the menu. Hence chocolate cake was the cause of much joy.

Day 19 "Wayqecha is literally on the side of the Andes and the thought of actually playing football seems ludicrous. As it happens there is a flat rectangle of ground 200 yards down the road. So 8 Peruvians and myself set about some 4-a-side on a pitch with 50% grass cover, but the remaining grass was half a meter high! It was tiring but fun, I scored a goal but my team lost in the dying seconds!"

Day 21 "Today was my last full day at Wayqecha and it started perfectly with Quinua porridge and cake! ... Wayqecha has been a great place to meet the forest, easy enough to work and test ideas. The food and hot showers give this place a feeling of luxary and it has been nice to adjust to waking and sleeping in sync with the sun"