Evita Sanchez

08/13/2024

Few weeks ago in San Francisco.
Had a lot of fun exploring the city, watching everyone run the SF Marathon, and eating delicious food with good company.

Until next time.

07/15/2024

Happy birthday 🥳

I can’t believe it’s already been a year since we last saw each other in Canada. Been a wild 366 eh? Yet, here we are, 23 years of friendship and counting!

Remember to keep your people close. Never forget the ones who always make time to check in on you. Make sure to tell them how much you love them, and be grateful for the time you get to spend together when you do.

Cheers to many more trips around the fire ball, cheers to you! 🎉

07/02/2024

08/08/2023

Peru 22’

Day 7
We set out to explore the town of Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu. Our knowledgeable and AMAZING guide Danny was one of my favorite people I met on this trip. He not only knew everything you could ask about Machu Picchu, but he was hilarious, kind, and a badass hiker. No one else I would’ve rather sung Hakuna Matata with while hiking. In Peru, Haku means “let’s go” or “come on” 😉

1. Aguas Calientes in the Urubamba River Valley.
2. The town of Aguas Calientes.
3. Our guide Danny pointing things out at the beginning of our tour of Machu Picchu.
4. Danny and the Wayna Picchu Mountain sign.
5. Machu Picchu
6. People taking a break under one of the huts at Machu Picchu.
7-9. Llamas galore roam this place.
10. Yours truly at one of the New 7 Wonders of the World - Machu Picchu. ☑️

08/08/2023

Peru 22’

Day 6
A day to remember.
We left our hotel at around 4:45am. We arrived at the train station around 6am to catch the train that takes you to KM104, the beginning of the Short Inca Trail. We started our hike around 8am and reached the first spot, Wiñay Wayna, at around 1pm. We continued on our trek to the Sun Gate, the first place where you get the first look of Machu Picchu. Here, around 3:30pm we we witnessed a very special moment of an engagement at the Sun Gate! Then finally, around 4pm we arrived at the breathtaking viewpoint of Machu Picchu.

1. Train station at KM104.
2. View of Wiñay Wayna from the hike … check out the next photo to see the trail I took it from and how far it was!
3. Within the top 1st 3rd of the photo, you’ll see a faint line that is the trail. That’s where I took the 2nd photo from! (Zoom in a bit to see!) The river below is called the Urubamba River.
4. Relaxing at one of the many terrace walls of Wiñay Wayna.
5. My partner in crime on the hiking trail, Ruben! We pushed each other to stay ahead of our group and had a lot of fun doing it.
6. Wiñay Wayna terraces and housing complexes. (Zoom in to see the people for a size reference.)
7. The first look at Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate. (Newly engaged couple in the foreground!) Notice how foggy it is, we later did an offering to Mother Nature for the fog and clouds to clear up and … bam! (Next photo!)
8. Machu Picchu in all of its glory.
9. Newly engaged couple at the Machu Picchu viewpoint. I later sent this photo along with a few others to them. They were super grateful to have had someone capture this special moment for them.
10. Fun fact, jumping isn’t allowed at the top of the view points we were standing on. I was yelled at about it AFTER this photo was taken. 🤭

08/06/2023

Peru 22’

Day 5
We started our morning early and headed to Rainbow Mountain. I’ll tell you what, the altitude here is no freakin joke. That’s the highest point I’ve ever been, right around 17,000 ft. People experienced shortness of breath, drops in oxygen levels, etc. Luckily for me, I made it up that beast with no real problemas, but it was a struggle getting up that last stretch and I could feel my heart pounding for its life.

Few fun facts about Rainbow Mountain aka Vinicunca. It’s made up of 14 different minerals that make up all the colorful layers. A few years ago it was completely covered in snow, but once that melted, it has turned into one of the top tourist attractions in Peru. It’s listed in National Geogrpahic’s “Top 100 Places to Visit Before You Die” … ☑️

1. Steve on his horse.
2. View from on top of the horse with our muleteer leading it.
3. Happy Tracey with the funky alpacas.
4. Rainbow Mountain in all it’s glory and colorfulness.
5. Peruvian lady in traditional Peruvian clothing.
6. Peruvian lady taking care of the horses.
7. Alpaca chewing some straw.
8. Family selling souvenirs and goods at the base of Rainbow Mountain.
9. View of the glacier next to Rainbow Mountain.
10. Muleteer woman walking her horse.

08/06/2023

Peru 22’

Day 4
1. Tracey waiting for our bus outside of our amazing hotel in Cusco.
2. Blind harpist at the entrance of Ollantaytambo.
3. View from the top of the Sun Gate at Ollantaytambo.
4. The beautiful Andes mountains. On our way to the small town Chinchero.
5. The beginning to our welcome ceremony. Their traditional wear is beautiful.
6. A welcome tea from the town people.
7. Peruvian woman weaving the alpaca fur row by row, into a colorful blanket.
8. One of the women explaining how they dye the alpaca fur with cochineal beetles from the cacti.
9. Alpaca fur before they start the process of cleaning, combing, and spinning the fur.
10. Young Peruvian lady in her traditional Lliclla.

08/04/2023

Day 3
Arriving in Cusco. Trip to Secsayhuaman and visiting the Plaza Mayor De Cusco (Cuzco Main Square).

1. Flying over the amazing Andes mountain range.
2. Tracey taking in Secsayhuaman and it’s ruins.
3. Man at the top of the hill of the ruins.
4. Our first encounter with the alpacas.
5. Cristo Blanco statue overlooking the city of Cusco.
6. Woman with her alpaca at the base of Cristo Blanco.
7. Overlooking the city of Cusco from Cristo Blanco statue.
8. Peruvian street woman.
9. Tracey wondering Plaza Mayor De Cusco (Cusco Main Square) or Plaza De Armas.
10. Basilica Cathedral, within the Plaza De Armas.

08/03/2023

Peru 22’

Day 2
I’ll never forget this day. Tracey and I decided to run down to the beach from our hotel. We ran around for about 4mi and then romped around Miraflores, Barranco, and the surrounding districts in taxis or on foot. There’s no better way to see the city and find hidden gems.

1. Under the bridge, Puente Eduardo Villena Rey.
2. “El Beso” or the kiss, also known as the Love Monument. Located at El Parque del Amor or Love Park.
3. A kiss for a kiss.
4. Puente Eduarda Villena Rey from a distance.
5. Love locks near the Bridge of Sighs in Barranco.
6. Captain wheel outside La Rosa Náutica restaurant.
7. Barranco street art. The Beatles, Prince, Bob Marley by Zelvauno.
8. There are dogs outside of many houses in Peru, and fashionable ones at that.
9. Barranco street art by Estefania “Fania” Fernandez.
10. Morning glory climbing a metal fence. Fun fact, Miraflores translates to “to see/look at flowers” so it’s pretty fitting.

08/02/2023

Can’t believe it’s already been a year.

Peru 22’

Day 1
1. Our amazinngggg guide from beginning to end, Juan Carlos. If anyone decides to take a trip out there, make sure you contact him.
2. The best Lima tour guide ever, Patricia.
3. Taxi driver gentleman on the streets of Lima.
4. Lady feeding the pigeons early morning at Plaza San Martin.
5. Pottery exhibit inside Museo Larco.
6. Some bomb ceviché we had at Republica Del Pisco.
7. The street lights go on forever in Peru.
8. Krista and her obsession for animals.
9. View from our hotel stairs.
10. The Lima sign, Lima, Peru.

02/23/2023

When some of your closest friends trust you to capture their special day, there is no greater honor.

I was lucky enough to spend the day with Dani and Matt during their wedding last year. We romped around Santa Bárbara, laughed in the streets, and enjoyed the California sunshine.

Dani is a visionary with a heart of gold, a beautiful being inside and out, and a wonderful friend. You deserve the world, and I know you found yours, happy birthday beauty. ✨