OCR Text |
Show Wednesday, Novembers, 1978 Page 11 Off ToTeru For More Conference Preparations Since it was learned that Park City will be hosting the Western Regional Conference Confer-ence of the American Society of Travel Agents next May, vigorous and detailed planning plan-ning has begun to prepare for the 2,000 visitors. Spearheading Spear-heading the project is Park City Resort assistant marketing mar-keting director Laura Thomas, who recently attended ASTA's western regional board meeting in Peru. Organized by the Rocky Mountain Chapter of ASTA, the meeting was attended by 15 agents whose goal it was to update plans on the Park City conference, meet committee com-mittee heads and, for Laura, to be on the receiving end of a familiarization tour. Following a ten-hour flight from the States, Ms. Thomas landed in Lima, the capital city of Peru, located in northwestern South America. Only 12 degrees south of the equator, it is said Lima would have a tropical climate but for the coastal Peru Current, whose cooler drafts keep the average temperature at 75 degrees. The modern city bears many memories of the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, who destroyed the Inca Empire and founded the city in 1535, and the Argentine Argen-tine Jose de San Martin, who led an expedition to free Peru from Spanish domination, domina-tion, declaring July 28, 1821 independence day. "To me, Lima was reminiscent reminis-cent of Turkey," Ms. Thomas noted. "It's right on the Pacific and is overcast and steamy." Ms. Thomas said the group was "wined and dined." Hours after arrival, they were introduced to Pisco Sours, a Peruvian Brandy. L "stronger than Tequila after af-ter the first day I had no desire for more Pisco Sours!" Outside the city of highrise hotels, statued plazas and Volkswagens, the hills abound with squatters moved in from the mountains moun-tains seeking a better way of life. Ms. Thomas noted the homes were mud-brick shacks, highly contrasting city-life in Lima. By way of comparison, she noted that an executive salary in Peru ranges from $12,000 to $14,000 per year, affording a four-bedroom home and two maids. Monday morning a joint meeting of the Peruvian Chapter and the Rocky Mountain Chapter of ASTA detailed plans for Park City. At that time a Mountain-lands Mountain-lands promotional movie was shown, detailing the recreational aspects of Utah's Wasatch and Summit Counties. Coun-ties. Ms. Thomas noted that the Peruvian Chapter has been invited to attend the Park City event, "and they are all waiting to get here to buy cowboy hats and western wes-tern shirts!" By coincidence, Chamber of Commerce assistant director direc-tor Shirley Smith and husband hus-band Rocky also were in Lima that Monday on their way to an Amazon adventure, adven-ture, and shared a bon voyage Pisco Sour with Laura, who was leaving Tuesday morning for Cuzco. Quite a change from sea level Lima, Cuzco lies at a lofty 11,000 feet. Visitors are cautioned to walk slowly until their bodies adjust. "Living at 7,000 feet, I thought Cuzco would be no problem, but I could really tell," Ms. Thomas recalled. After arriving at the hotel, the guests were offered coca tea steeped from the leaves of the South American shrub. The tea helps in the adjustment adjust-ment period by speeding up the blood circulation. The ancient city, once capital of the greatest empire em-pire that ever existed in South America, is built largely on Inca walls and foundations. An Indian-Spanish Indian-Spanish mix is apparent in both art and architecture in the city, and many of its streets are steep, windy and cobblestoned. Ms., Thomas, noted that the city is the same, size as Park City, but multiple family dwellings make the population popula-tion much higher. "It is a beautiful, clean city with mountains all around," she said. "And just outside the city are adobe houses with television antennas sticking out of the roofs." The resort representative noted that in Cuzco, the women wear many different hats, indicating their family or village. A center square shopping district displays native wares. Peru is noted for its k '' J ) It - v v;4 it is said fertile soil was brought from distant valleys to enrich the terraces. "Machu Picchu is gorgeous," gor-geous," Laura said. "It's the start of the Amazon and the mountains are thick with vegetation. There are nothing no-thing but ruins way up in the mountains, really spectacular. spectacu-lar. I took a hike and I was up on one pinnacle surrounded by other pinnacles." Since Machu Picchu is a city of ruins, the group returned to Cuzco that evening eve-ning and the next morning flew to Arequipa. on the southern tip of Peru. "What a flight! Below the plane was a blanket of clouds with 20,000-foot peaks cropping crop-ping out. I've never seen anything like it." Outside the city are three inactive volcanoes, whose rock forms most of Arequipa. As a result, the city is beige-white. Ms. Thomas commented that Arequipa is very clean and more middle class than others she had visited. There were streets where local artisans sat in garages making their wares, waiting for customers. Ms. Thomas noted that food in South America tends to be spicy, and that fish and chicken are abundant. Visitors Visi-tors are recommended, in some cases, to drink bottled water, and some prefer Inca Cola, a yellow version of Coca Cola. Back to Lima Saturday to collect belongings and to be wined and dined once more before leaving. The Sheraton Lima hosted a closing ban quet where everyone talked over their good time and the good ideas shared for the Park City event. "Aside from being spectacular, specta-cular, the trip afforded me the opportunity to meet the ASTA committee heads and for us to update each other on how plans are progressing," progress-ing," Ms. Thomas said. ; Ten hours left the ancient ruins of a lost civilization behind, bringing the mountains moun-tains of Park City and a budding population into view. ; t Laura Thomas blankets and weavings made from the wool of llamas and alpacas, a llama-like animal. ani-mal. Bartering is encouraged, encour-aged, and Ms. Thomas left Cuzco with some great bargains. A three-hour train ride took the group past fantastic scenery to the interior and the ruins of Machu Picchu. Because of their religion and for safety reasons, the Incas built most of their city and fortresses on the mountain slopes. The area has been terraced up the Andean mountains, with steep, narrow stairways connecting connect-ing homes. The terracing also prevented erosion, and A DIOLE STUDY FELLOWSHIP A PLACE TO FEAST OK THE WORD OF GOD 9:00 a.m. SUNDAY AT THE TREASURE MOUNTAIN INN For More Information: 649-8295, 649-8424, 649-8535, or write: P.O. Box 2473, PARK City, Utah 84060 St. Mary of the Assumption all Bajaar November 18 8:00 P.M. Memorial Building Raffle Prizes 1st prize- micro wave oven 2nd prize- season ski pass Park West 3rd prize- $50 savings at the 1st Security Bank Bingo Raffle tickets available from parishoners Extra tickets at the Gazebo and the Rectory ; ' . f 9if m w. r jiws SKie-si ""j 'l'Vt j).! i., yf y"'5 V. & 5 K 1 jf 3 'i SsBS w Hi Vi . 1 'UJIIIIilM'llMIMIlMM'lllli iIIJTIiIW S: it-i k. Wv . rii ftj i- s. . - ' s K i ' - - - , " if H r. t-5 S-Cv a5S.. Kso w k ssft-:4-. rf;-:vXM s . f s J ' ; r " ' ' i I i &ii!f ftW m Swrf e. - - j?As e? -.x ssvxx 1 9f ?5 (1! v ,"t I "7 VS ! JSS l fJ ; J-':-' i'i --w? O You have better use of your money . . . automatically. Your money in savings earns 5 continuously compounded interest. O You receive at no cost, a complete checking package including special personalized checks, saving and checking registers, and deposit and withdrawal slips. You receive a new combined checking check-ing and saving monthly descriptive statement. Even though smaller combined balances may result in a fee for Advantage it still remains your best buy in a savingschecking automatic transfer service Look at you own situation. We think you'll agree. Advantage can also offer you the new First security Banking card, the smallest checkbook in the world. The VISA banking card Is, in fact, a check, not a credit card, and the banking card is accepted wherever the Blue, White and Cold sign is shown, it gives you access to your checking account wherever you are. Advantage also includes reduced rates on installment loans. The NEW way to bank that helps you control your money. See your nearby First Security Bank for all details. Members FDIC u "ty Bann ot utaft N'A' "; Frst SFrunlv'Swe'Bjr SsuiaCM U'J 3 J Bnh oi Idaho N A Fust Sptunty Banh m ?" N A ' bnu- ' SU( Bar ot Mir' |