Belching lessons...

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So, yesterday´s blog I actually finished today (the 9th) because the internet service went kablooie and I lost about 75% of it. 😞. And today´s blog I am actually writing on the 10th since we finally found the internet here in Urubama.....more on that on the next blog (the 10th).....confused?? so am i..... at least the symbol keys work here (for the most part).

Anyway, after the last blog, we went to the Catholic Church, which we didn´t see last time. Stef´s guide book said that mass lasted until 8am, so at 9am, we assumed we would be ok to go in. However, mass was still in full swing, but lots of other tourist were milling in and out, so we went on in. It was really interesting to see the same figures that were paraded around for Corpus Cristo lined up in the church. The wardrobes were incredibly intricate, and we got a much better look at them than on parade day. And, since pictures aren´t allowed inside the church, we were lucky to catch them the day before to get a few photos. This church also houses the painting of the last supper.....with cuy (guinea pig) as the main course!

Next, we went across the corner to the Jesuit church....no service in this one, but we were able to go upper into the choir balcony and up into part of the bell towers to get great pictures of the Plaza des Armas. It also has catacombs, and Stef was hoping to see some bones, but we were both disappointed as the only view was through a hole in the floor and not a humerus was to be found. (Not that Stef didn´t try.....¨I think I see a skull!!! no, it´s just a rock¨).

Next was our disastrous (sp?) visit to the a different internet site where I lost most of the 8ths blog. We also bought a few postcards and stamps.

Once again, we went to meet (hopefully) Renan´s brother Hubi at his office. Again, we sat across the street debating on whether the door we were watching like hawks was the actual entrance. Finally, a few minutes after 3pm, I convinced Stef we should ask at the Pharmacia next door if we were waiting in the correct place. The answer was yes, thank goodness, however they had no idea when it be open. Keep in mind that according to Renan, Hubi had already bought our train tickets, so we were both slightly concerned that on our last full day in Cuzco we still haven´t met up with him yet. We resumed our seats .... and low and behold, someone came and opened the door to the complex, we were able to find Hubi´s office......which still was not open and had no hours posted. While waiting, we couldn´t help but notice the interesting CHRISTMAS decor on his windows (this was not the first place we had noticed this either......mom, dad....we no longer need be ashamed by our February Christmas take down). FINALLY, Stef spies a Renan-looking man walking towards us. He greeted us very warmly, and in rapid Spanish that Stef had some difficulty following, he eventually got the idea across that he had not gotten tickets yet because it requires our passports. So, after he locked back up, (he left the waiting room open...the inferrence (sp?) being that if he had any clients, they would wait for his return) we zoomed off to the train station to buy our tickets to Machu Picchu and from Puno back to Cuzco. Then to our surprise, he showed us a night club that he had recommended (we think) to us so we would know how to get there. (Stef thinks he may have meant to meet us there that night?? but they were only communicating in the most basic way since he was not good at slowing down or using different phrasing when she said she didn´t understand. It was an interesting contrast to the folks that work in the tourist industry.....most of them have a fairly good grasp of English, yet although he is very educated, he had none and obviously had no experience with those with only basic Spanish.) And then, he took us to Inka Express to get our bus tickets to Puno, were he left us, at least a good hour and a half after closing up his practice. A dentist in America could never get away with that! As he left, he went to give us kisses on the cheek (we thought). Thank goodness he went for Stef first, because she kept offering her cheek and he kept aiming for her lips. So, I was prepared and gave him no option because I firmly offer only the cheek. However, he did continue to hold my hand longer than was necessary while offering (we think) a place to stay next time we are in Peru! (He is btw married and has two kids, so maybe this is just good hospitality and we are just not reading the situation correctly......?).

After that adventure, our last tourist stop of the day was Qoriconcha. A priory that was build on top of an Incan place of worship. The monks still living in part of it and keep up the public areas which house more oil paintings in the Cusco school style (yawn.....although I think we may have seen the first use of the comic book speech bubble....in one painting a choir of angels is singing to Maria each one singing one word of the song) and also some temporary showing of more contemperary art. The gardens were my favorite part - beautiful flowering (in winter) plants, well maintained, and we saw a beautiful hummingbird!

Dinner was not overly exciting, except that as an appetizer-munchie they served some type of corn kernel that was some how roasted without popping. It tasted just like popped corn, just a little bit crunchier.

Now we finally arrive at the title of this blog which was Stef trying to teach me how to belch since I have never been able to on purpose and I have probably only done it naturally about 5 times in my life!

Well, as usual, Stef has to pee, so Í´ll try to get caught up finally tomorrow (which is actually the 11th.....)

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Comments

[Bryan]

Five times?!?!?!? No way. I belched five times while reading this entry!