😂 When I waited in Santa Teresa for the bus to Cusco, I met a Swede. He was in transit and brought some rapé from the Brazilian Amazon. He couldn't tell me exactly what's in it. Tobacco and other plants, he said. It looked a bit like crack, so I just tried it. What should happen bad?😅
Shamans use it ritually to establish contact with the Great Spirit. You blow the rapé with a v-shaped tube into the nostrils. The shamans actually take longer pipes and blow each other's nostrils. It's very strong tobacco, which burns in the nose and goes directly into the head. Shortly thereafter, a deep relaxation spreads throughout the body. I found it very pleasant, so I got some on the San Pedro market in Cusco and brought it to Germany. I still have most of it. It is really strong! Always fun to offer it to my friends. 😜 But actually there is a much deeper meaning behind it. Those who are interested should search for "sacred rapé rites".✌☺

The loveliest place I found in Peru is Santa Teresa. It's a few kilometers away from Machu Picchu. There I relaxed so much! Here on a rock at the Urubamba River, near the hot wells.

Red paper wasp,
Polistes canadensis
(10/2018 in Santa Teresa, Peru)

I've often encountered them in the Cusco region. With a wingspan of about 5 cm, they belong to the larger wasp species. The species name refers to Canada, but it doesn't occur there. The first describer, zoologist Carl von Linné, was misinformed. The red paper wasp lives in neotropical regions from Argentina to USA. Unfortunately, I couldn't photograph any of them alive. But a dead insect can also be quite interesting! I think it would fit well in a Star Wars movie, right?

Near Machu Picchu is the beautiful village of Santa Teresa. This was the nicest place of my trip! The kids danced from morning to night and I really enjoyed staying in the main square and watching them. ✌☺

Near Machu Picchu is the beautiful village of Santa Teresa. This was the nicest place of my trip! The kids danced from morning to night and I really enjoyed staying in the main square and watching them. 👌☺

The loveliest place I found in Peru is Santa Teresa. It's a few kilometers away from Machu Picchu. There I relaxed so much!
In my opinion the hot wells aren't as good as in Aguas Calientes (too many tourists and less security for your stuff). But the village is so beautiful! I just sat at the main place, listened to traditional music, watched how the children were dancing and got involved in some nice conversations.