| Peru: October 2005 Cusco |
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| Traveling to Cusco was definately not the most pleasent trip in my life. For starters, I basically went straight from dancing to the airport, with only a half hour to pack. All the flights to Cusco leave rediculously early, which meant I was in the beautiful city by 9 in the morning. Cusco is located 3360 meters above sea level. I had read about the altitude sickness, called soroche, but to experience it was something else. It probably didn't help that I was dead tired, but I couldn't stop shaking. Walking around was exhausting and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. I had arranged to take spanish lessons at the San Blas Spanish School and to stay with a host family. My host mom, Dina, picked me up at the airport, which was very helpful considering my current physical condition and the number of hills in the area. I think I managed to flip my suitcase over three times (it has wheels! How hard can it be to pull along???) before we got to the taxi. Once we arrived home in San Blas, I had breakfast, drank a lot of coco tea, and slept. I slept more or less all day, though I did come to the table for lunch and dinner as well. It was strange to have people speaking spanish to me. Usually, people speak spanish around me :-> The second day was much better. I spent the morning shopping in for pijamas. I had been in such a hurry the night I left Lima, that I had forgotten my pijamas in the bathroom. And Cusco is way to cold to sleep without them. I had ended up wrapped up in several shirts and sweaters the night before, and I didn't want to repeat the experience. Shopping in Cusco was funny. The stores were set up like market stalls, and no one had large selection. Ok, I know I'm picky, but when it comes to sleeping, I think I have reason to be. Think about it. People spend about half their lives in bed, which I think means you should be as comfortable as possible. For me, comfortable pijamas translates into a nightgown without any of the elasic bands, buttons or other adornments that tend to bunch, rip, and tear when you move around in your sleep. I prefer silk, but linen and fine cotton can be just as soft. I had no luck in Cusco. Most pijamas were either flannel or fleece, and the only nightgowns they had were old lady nightgowns. With lots of little flowers. I hate floral patterns. Eventually I broke down, however, and I now own an ugly flannel nightgown. In the afternoon, I had my first spanish class with my instructor, Patti. You can see a really bad picture of us in the corner of the last figure. I'm in the brown sweater and Patti is in the gray coat. The lessons were very helpful, but I had completely misrepresented by spanish level. I thought I was a beginner, but I do know the basics. I just have no real speaking or comprehesion ability. Isn't it funny how that works? Anyway, Patti did a great job of rearranging the lessons and I learned a lot. Now I need to keep practicing! My host family consisted of Dina, the mother, and her three children - one of which has the most adorable little girl, Emi, who is in the same picture as Patti and I. The remaining two sibling, Neto and Jamil (I'm sorry, I'm sure I've spelled this worng!) teach salsa lessons. I was very happy to learn this, as salsa dancing is one of my three passions. The Journey Continues: Salsa and Horses Only Thoughts Can Return: Lima Enter the Wood Between the Worlds |
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