UJ #14 - Qhapac Ñan

You describe yourself as an “explorer”,
what do you need to be one?
John: You have to be crazy (laughs). You need an
adventurous spirit, be willing to make sacrifices
and have a ‘strong mind’. People say that the most
important thing is to have water and a tent, but
the most important thing is mental. If you have a
strong mind, you will be able to survive anywhere,
under any condition, surrounded by anyone,
without water, without food or shelter. You need
to find a way to resist all that pressure on your
shoulders, and it’s not easy at all.
Do you think that this experience has
helped you understand more of Peru?
Nick: It’s more about being able to see ancient
Peru. 100 years ago this road system was there.
These are roads that endure from generation to
generation and, to understand each town, we must
understand the Qhapaq Ñan. Somehow I started
travelling because of that desire to investigate,
and Peru is a place to let loose those instincts of
exploration. Once you know the language, you
can integrate into society, and that allows you to
appreciate everything in a much deeper level.
With so many years travelling through
Peru, do you still feel like a foreigner?
John: I never feel like a foreigner, because
nationality means nothing to me. We are all
different, and we need to educate ourselves to
get along well with each other. I always try to
work with local people, go to food festivals, show
respect towards the communities so that they also
respect others. When I travel, I solely see myself as
another human being walking a path.
Kevin Floerke
The primary
objective of
the expedition
was to create
awareness
about the
importance of
this heritage.
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