A Quechua Heart in the Modern World

Not knowing her Spanish father, abandoned by her Peruvian mother at 8 months old and raised by her grandparents on a subsistence farm in a primitive remote village cut off from the outside world at almost 11,000 feet with no roads, no electricity or plumbing, no doctors, no clocks, and no wheeled carts, Coriwayta “Golden Flower” thrived in the ancient Andean Quechua Indian culture with the pure love of her grandparents and the companionship of the many animals she encountered and befriended.

Encouraged to work hard at school, learning Spanish at age 5, and wanting to achieve a better life, Coriwayta (Christened Nelly Balboa Cuellar) was ready to journey to the modern world when her aging grandfather forced her to leave their village for the capital city of Lima at age 12, ahead of the Shining Path terrorist onslaught.

Looking back, she describes the mountain myths and legends, the culture of cooperative survival, their everyday tasks, their dependence on the whims of nature, and her adventures with animals in a wild environment.

Join Coriwayta 'Golden Flower' on her remarkable journey from the Andean highlands to the modern world. Discover the rich culture, myths, and legends of the Quechua people and be inspired by her resilience and determination. Read her story and experience the transformative power of courage and perseverance.