Dream Trip 2009

Great Travel Moment

On my way from Cusco, Peru to a remote festival, I transferred buses at the small town of Combapata. As I ran through the main plaza to catch my next ride, I saw these local women lined up on the curb. I dropped my bags and dug out my camera, and was lucky to capture this unique scene. Their interesting faces and colorful traditional clothing, set against the weather-worn texture of the buildings, express a bit of the essence of rural Andean communities, and I was fortunate to witness, and capture, a brief but unique moment of everyday Peruvian life. Later, a Peruvian friend even pointed out that you can see the coca filled cheek of the woman on the left! It reminds me of the amazing rewards, both in photographs and experiences, of venturing off the beaten path, even considering the difficulties and uncertainties.