Their Eyes Were Watching The Color Purple (Ancash)

This past week our training group traveled to Ancash for field based training. Ancash is the department (think state) right above Lima and is commonly referred to as the “Switzerland of Peru.” Its name in Quechua means “They Say Its Blue.” Ancash has beautiful landscapes and is home to Nevado Huascarán – the highest mountain in Peru and the fourth highest in the Western Hemisphere. All of our days in “The Switzerland of Peru” were s̶u̶p̶e̶r̶ ̶f̶u̶n̶  long, exhausting, and packed with technical training so we didn’t really have a lot of time to explore the culture and natural beauty of Ancash. However, I was able to get some really great photos out of our time there — me being a professional iPhone photographer and all. I paired the pictures with some quotes from that I liked from The Color Purple and Their Eyes Were Watching God for all of you bibliophiles- enjoy!

“…have you ever found God in church? I never did. I just found a bunch of folks hoping for him to show. Any God I ever felt in church I brought in with me. And I think all the other folks did too. They come to church to share God, not find God.” – The Color Purple

This is the church is called Iglesia de Soledad – its not a main point of attraction but it was very beautiful. It was destroyed and rebuilt after a deadly earthquake in 1970.

“Oh to be a pear tree – any tree in bloom! With kissing bees singing of the beginning of the world! ” -Their Eyes Were Watching God

We spent the first two days in Huaraz, the capital of Ancash, and the rest of the week in a province called Bolognesi. While in Bolognesi, we stayed in a town called Chiquian and visited a town called Huasta (known for its supposedly amazing milk and cheese products). This was the garden inside of the courtyard of our hostel.

“She pulled in her horizon like a great fish-net. Pulled it from around the waist of the world and draped it over her shoulder.” – Their Eyes Were Watching God

After getting over some nasty altitude sickness, I was able to enjoy the beauty that is Ancash. I’m honestly not a big nature girl, but the landscape was so pretty I don’t think anyone could ignore it. Pictures don’t really do it justice.

“Us sing and dance, make faces and give flower bouquets, trying to be loved. You ever notice that trees do everything to get attention we do, except walk?” -The Color Purple

We took a nice stroll through Huasta and at the bend in the path there was this HUGE random tree that seemed like it was begging for attention.

“Every stitch I sew will be a kiss.” – The Color Purple

   We went to an artisan market in Huaraz in a rare window of free time. There were   beautiful fabrics. They’re used by Peruvian women to carry things on their back (including babies). I consulted google for the specific name for them and it came back with aguayo but I know that’s not the name I learned a few days ago.

“Besides she liked being lonesome for a change. This freedom feeling was fine. ” – Their Eyes Were Watching God

This one was taken in Huaraz. There’s no real story behind this one — just a lady strolling solo.

“Love is like the sea. It’s a moving thing, but still and all, it takes its shape from the shore it meets, and it’s different with every shore.” – Their Eyes Were Watching God

I took this picture of a small inland lake on the bus from Chiquian back to Huaraz. I was sleeping for the majority of the ride to Chiquian so I made a special point to stay away on the way back.