To kick off our second week in Cusco, Sunday morning´s breakfast featured crepes, made by our favorite French Canadian Claudelle, and topped with various fruits and some improvised chocolate sauce. The rest of the weekend consisted of intensive chilling out (any grand ideas for activities around the city were put to rest by the low energy levels resultant of so much Spanish and loveable, if rather hyperactive children) and cleaning as we prepared to move hostels and readied ourselves for another insanely busy week here in Cusco.
Monday night saw us once again lugging our backpacks across town via taxi to our new magical hostel (literally called Hospedaje Magico). As nice as our previous house was, it is definitely fun to be able to explore another part of the city and live in close proximity to the hustle and bustle of the San Pedro market and Plaza de Armas, even if it is a bit farther away from the school. That, and there is a nice little pizza place around the corner that seems to be strangely magnetic (when you go back for the fourth night in a row, you know you´re hooked). I think we all may be missing good old American comfort food. Just a tad.
On Tuesday night, after another cooking class (which I did not personally attend but hear was traditional Peruvian cuisine at its finest), the TV at our hostel was tuned to CNN, as we crowded the couches to view election coverage. About half the group had cast their vote, but we all eagerly awaited the results. Would we return home to a new president or not?! Unfortunately, we got kicked out well before all the votes had been tallied. Never fear though, as the handy dandy Internet provided us with the news the next morning, which was met with much celebration.
Sadly, these weeks of non-stop activity have caused some negative effects: In one of the packed-like-a-sardine-can public buses, somebody stole Julia´s passport, one of the worst things to happen right before we have to jump on a plane to the Amazon. We are continuously being warned against cases of thievery like this, but it is nonetheless still troubling when it happens to someone you actually know. Here´s to you, Julia, for handling the whole situation so gracefully, something we can all learn from.
Also, on Wednesday and Thursday, around half the group stayed home sick with various maladies, ranging from travellers´ tummy troubles to el gripe to an unfortunate combination of the two. Even the invincible Dan had to make a brief trip to the nearby clinic. Could it be the mal aire of Cusco? Peru might be wearing us down, but of course, being the fabulous group that we are, there are so many things we can´t help but stay positive about.
For example, romance. Sickness is in the air, but so is love, something much more poweful. I don´t think I´m at liberty to mention names, but let´s just say that some of our dear friends have become a little something more than just friends. Combine that with the stray crush here and there, and you can probably imagine that our nighttime gossip has been quite juicy as of late.
Today (Friday), for our last full day of Cusco-ness, we exchanged little gifts and cards (hopefully written with proper grammar!) with our lovely Spanish teachers. In the afternoon, to celebrate our last day of volunteering, we hopped a bus to this park with a multi-story rainbow-colored slide and recieved hugh after hug from the youngsters of Waaw. So many goodbyes.
Tomorrow (Saturday) we are leaving the city for some much earned rest and relaxation in the Sacred Valley. It is quite peculiar to think that this grand journey is more than halfway over… so with that, onward to the yoga retreat, to meditate upon our adventures (and misadventures) thus far.
Ciao, and good vibes from yours truly,
–Marina–