A few hours after returning from yet another successful trip to Peru (21st of June to the 7th of July), I rush to post coverage from the previous trip (May 20th to 31st 2011), the 30th Anniversary of the discovery of the Colca Canyon by a group of Polish explorers in 1981. The biggest attraction was the unveiling of plaques in the bottom of the canyon at the Waterfalls of John Paul II, all dedicated to the late pope.
Five years after placing a plaque in this location informing the world that the nearby waterfalls were named after John Paul II, we had yet another commemorative ceremony. This time, next to the aforementioned plaque, four bronze plaques were mounted in stone commemorating the late pope.
The unveiling of these plaques happened exactly on May 28th, 2011, where 30 years ago these waterfalls were discovered along with the rest of the canyon by Polish kayakers. Before the ceremony could begin, participants had to trek nearly 30 total kilometers of narrow trails dating back to pre-Inca times, in the dry heat and intense sun while walking around volcanic rock, scaling 2 kilometers down.
From Lima to Huambo
Our path to this ceremony took us from Lima to Arequipa, then Chivay, the capital of Calloma, where the Colca Canyon is found. We received very warm welcomes in the towns we visited, being treated as honorables.
The most sincere and touching welcome was in Huambo, which you may as well call a Polish village. This small village is located near the edge of the Colca Canyon at about 11,000 feet above sea level has an elementary school named "Juan Pablo II", which has received many donations from the Polish American Traveler's Club and personally from Jurek Majcherczyk. They also have a street named "Avenida de Los Polacos". Polish people are always welcomed warmly here by the residents, often with ceremonies that include dances and colorful attire along with singing and bands playing.
This small village is the base for all trips down to the canyon bottom village of Canco, where the discovery expedition found itself back in '81.
Trail to the bottom of the Earth
The next morning after holy mass led by Fr. Andrzej Papież at the local church, we began our long trek via an original Inca trail. We had about 10 miles of trail to conquer to make it to Canco, which would take us through a 6,500 vertical descent to get to the canyon bottom. After 8 hours of intense trekking we made it to the wooden cross. From this point, as we rested, we enjoyed the beautiful view of Canco and the Rio Colca. At the bottom, right by the canyon river, we could see open green fields where our campgrounds were to be. We began the steep descent down the 1,500 foot trail to the bottom, being so tough for some that they 'dragged' themselves to camp.
To the Falls
Our second day at the canyon bottom in Canco, after two nights sleeping in tents and resting in the hot springs, we headed upstream. As we made it to the waterfalls we saw the large boulder in the distance that held the plaques. One of the plaques mounted years ago from Medjugorje was visible, and it read: "BENDITA POR EL PAPA - VATICANO 16.10.2003". An image of John Paul II is etched above this plaque and besides this plaque the four others were covered. Next to this boulder stands a large portrait of the late pope and a big wooden cross, placed here by members of the 25th anniversary, 5 years earlier.
Mass by the waterfalls
At exactly 13:13 holy mass began, when the first ray of sun touched upon the granite plaque's image of John Paul II. The pope was looking down on us from above, and we felt his presence there at that moment.
Father Andrzej dedicated this mass as a thanksgiving mass for the beatification of John Paul II as well as for the Polish kayakers who explored the canyon back in 1981. A moment later, after singing a commemorative song, Jurek stepped up to unveil the plaques, as wished by its funders.
Votives for the pope in the deepest canyon on Earth
With great appreciation Majcherczyk pulled the string to unveil the plaques. Three plaques became visible, with the vertical one, closest to the main plaque, reading: IN TRIBUTE TO JOHN PAUL II OUR FOUNDER. JOHN PAUL II FOUNDATION. VATICAN 28 MAY 2011.
Next to this one, on the right, is the second plaque that reads: IN HONOR OF JOHN PAUL II, THE GREAT APOSTLE OF DIVINE MERCY. JOHN PAUL II FOUNDATION NEW JERSEY CHAPTER. USA 28 MAY 2011.
Under this one the next one read: IN HONOR OF JOHN PAUL II, THE GREAT POPE, SHEPHERD AND POLE. ST. STANISLAUS KOSTKA PARISH. BLESSED JOHN PAUL II SQUARE. BROOKLYN, NY. USA. 28 MAY 2011.
Only one plaque remained, covered in a red-white flag. As it became unveiled, we noticed it was the only plaque from Poland with colored labels, with the following words: IN TRIBUTE TO JOHN PAUL II A GREAT POLE AND A TEACHER. THE COMMUNITY OF JOHN PAUL II HIGH SCHOOL IN SIEWIERZ, POLAND, MAY 28, 2011.
After a moment Father Andrzej blessed them with holy water, enough for all participants as well. Besides our trip members there were also many residents of Canco and Huambo along with a few children, who were baptized exactly 5 years ago in this spot by Father Slawek Czalej. After a moment of silence with everyone looking at the plaques and indulging in the moment, with only the sound of flags blowing in the wind, everyone clapped and rejoiced in the monumentous day.
And so it was by this ceremony that yet another one of Jurek Majcherczyk's dreams came true, as a member of the 1981 Canoandes expedition, to pay homage to the late Polish pope - a great traveler and pilgrim during his time, who along will now always be remembered in the deepest canyon on Earth.
