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Published: December 8th 2008
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Rainbow
Our first in Cusco Hola, back again!
Just thought that I would write a final note before the end of my time in Cusco.
Its been a week or 2 since I last wrote and I´ve managed since then to learn some salsa, play the pan pipes, experience mountain biking for the first time (ouch!!) and gain a 40hour intensive spanish school certificate, hooray!!
Last weekend we had a day out visiting various Inka ruins near to Cusco (Saqsaywaman, Q´enco, Tambomachay).
Saqsaywaman on the saturday was most eventful. We got ourselves a guide on site who showed us around. All was going well until he asked us if we were up for an adventure...so we said yes of course! Big Mistake. He led us into a cave which was pitch black and narrow and suddenly dropped down so we were practicly down on our knees. This I could just about cope with, after all I wanted to challenge myself on this trip. However suddenly kids came from the other direction and began shouting ´gringos´and hands were everywhere on us. So we were in a confined space with kids trying to push past us, holding onto our belongings and suddenly panicking that
we couldnt move or get out. At one point I had a man trying to push past me one way and another man trying to go the other, aaah!! Luckily, Emma managed to find the way back out with much pushing and shoving and so we made it to the outside world. I believe my heart was in my mouth at that point!! However besides that the views were stunning and I was suitably impressed. In Q´enco we tried to find a shamen who we had heard through the grapevine hung out there, but no such luck!!
On sunday we visited Pisac which had a huge market which we spent about 5 hours in!! The bus ride there was pretty amusing. I sat next to this older peruvian lady who before getting on with her knitting tried to sell me her beads she had made, i said no as was sure the market would do me fine. She then proceeded to tell a girl we were with that to get rid of her mosquito bites, that she should pour urine over them!! Hadnt heard that one before but i reckon she knew what she was talking about!. Oh and
apparently at every scary turn in the road she crossed herself, i missed seeing her do that, thankfully!
Pisac market is fantastic. When you first walk in, there is a whole length of food stalls as well as what looks like mini bars made up of wood that old men sit at drinking the local ale (apparently the gringos cant handle this what with their weak stomachs!). As you go further in its all sorts of clothes and ceramics and this is where I purchased my first hat, yay!! I also managed to get a nice thick scarf, some alpaca wool socks (which i am living in every bed time), a bracelet, a ceramic wooden bowl and an inka necklace, all for under 20 pounds, what a bargain.
One night during the week we had a night out at a restaurant that funded a local kids charity and this was quite an experience I have to say. The restaurant was kitted out with hundreds of toys from kermit to ernie and bert, and they were either sat on chairs or hanging from the ceiling. What also amused us was this guy across from us who came on his own
but had Noddy sat next to him for company! Will try and find a pic to show you what I mean as that probably sounds a bit odd doesnt it!
The following week was more spanish school which was slowly starting to make more sense thankfully. On friday it was our last day and so we had pisco sour to celebrate and were each given a certificate to say we had completed the course.
The next day me and Emma moved from the school and we are now based in a tiny but comfy little hostal a bit further away from the centre, just for a change really.
The saturday just gone a group of us went on a mountain biking trip through the sacred valley. Stunning scenery and cycling through small remote villages and saying hola to the local people who stood at the side of the road to wave at you, all of that was pretty amazing. My only issue was mountain biking itself. This was for 2 reasons.
1. I can barely ride a normal bike let alone a mountain bike on rough terrain.
2. The woman at the company we booked from said
Mountain biking trip
the first glitch..some broken spokes. one of many problems along the way. Mine amazingly didnt ´brake´ down..only I did ;) it was an easy route, only straight and downhill. Which wasnt the case AT ALL.
Dozens of hills going up and many a time was spent getting off the bike and trundling along uphill at a snails pace due to the fact we were also at very high altitude. (Oh and I also wasnt feeling to well, mix of hangover and genuine tummy sickness). So was pretty tough going but am pleased I did it simply for the challenge it invoked in me and the stunning scenery throughout. We also visited the Salineras of Maras in Maras, a huge expanse of salt pans which had apparently been made naturally before Christ so our guide told us, which was then extended by man and now makes a huge amount of salt which we have so often experienced in our cuisine in Peru....they love their salt.
Next stop is machu picchu this coming wednesday. Will tell all once I get back. All I can say is that Im looking forward to it incredibly but not sure how much my body will love me at the end of it!. Will let you know how i get on.....so until then....
Adios to
Sacred Valley
One of the many locals we passed along the way...i was in the car at this point...not whizzing along on my bike camera in hand like i should have been..obviously you all
xxxx
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Tansi
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i'm feeling the pain of the mountain biking.....and so jealous....scenery amazing.....x