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Published: August 11th 2010
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So Cusco so far has been a challenge, an experience and a joy. The joyous part being mostly (if not entirely) down to wonderful visit from cousins and them finding me a friend for a couple of days haha. So I'm not going to lie that this has all been plain sailing. The thought that most crossed my mind was "I can't do this" and I questioned regularly what the hell I was trying to prove. Although both these things still cross my mind every now and then but I'm beginning to make my peace with these thoughts. It reminded me of the first days at uni. Except that everyone already knows each other, speaks a different language, and is only here for two days. But. I managed to get through more trying things on my own at uni so I can sodding well take this on right?
After several e-mails of misery to Taygs (thanks wifey!) and chats to mother dearest and getting much support from all and sundry, I decided to take the mentality that I wasn't going to let being alone ruin this experience right now. I couldn't come home and tell people I didn't see or
do anything because I was on my own now could I. So I went and booked tours of everything I could find to keep me busy until volunteering and Spanish classes started on the coming Monday.
The tours were interesting and good to do as I was bored and alone, but I wouldn't recommend them (except the one to Moras and Moray which in my opinion was amazing). I've seen quite a bit of Inca ruins already so while very interesting, and good to see, I took one thing from each tour that I'd learnt and left it at that (and lots of photos of course). Taking a little bit of my bro's own 'blog' I've decided to keep a "cool/interesting things I've seen/learnt/done" section that I'll update another time as I've forgotten the book I wrote them in! Namely, the Incas were geniuses. And yet, their progress seemed pretty stagnant when you compare to Asia and Europe. I still don't know why that is. Their focus was on pachamama (mother earth), wholly and entirely. And being here I can completely understand why. The Sun and Moon are bright and constant, the Sun providing warmth during the bitterly cold
summer months, the mountains are ever-present and cowering, the rains give life and can equally dessimate. And they really did have a lot of science. It was just on agriculture and faith rather than on gunpowder. A massive shame they never continued on to their full extent.
So other than tours I am back to cooking for myself, which I really enjoy, even if it is just choclo and potatoes everyday. The food market here is brilliant. I love it. And I can literally eat choclo 4 times a day if I wanted. And I have totally unpacked my life in my little box of a room to make it home. I stayed in a total nightmare hostel that brought about much more feelings of depression so promptly left and returned to the first. Grass is always greener and all that.
Aside from day-to-day. It's been Peruvian Indepence Day. Which was a couple days' celebration in the main plaza and a great watch. The plaza was filled with all the different military factions. Millions of photos were taken naturally. It was really nice seeing all that patriotism that wasn't association with football or the BNP and again I
wish we still had some of that left in England, some pride, some history that we are proud of and celebrate.
That said, there seemed to be a fatal flaw in the intelligence of a certain protest group from north of Cusco who decided that the day they choose to protest would be the day that the square was full of every soldier/policeman/riot guard etc etc in the whole area. Obviously it didn't go down well and I managed to saunter right in the middle of it. Rocks were thrown. Riot police charged. Man didn't run fast enough. Police beat him with batons. Police retreat to station. Protesters implore how innocent the man was. So protests work the same around the world then eh.
Classes have been really good and one-on-one. I'm two weeks in now and I still haven't got a grip on it. I think I am getting slower as I analyse every word, sentence and verb spoken to me! I'm waiting for it all to click. In the midst of thinking that I may never understand this language. Mostly the tutor and I speak, and I speak about my self, a lot, I swear she
knows more about me than most people, in a badly translated way, and we learn some grammar, and I get frustrated, and I stop talking, and I hate her again. It's a fairly steady cycle of this now! I feel quite sorry for the poor girl (she's only a year older than me). And she tells me to practice. Well easier said than done when the only people who speak to me here are the letchy younger guys or the girls trying to sell me massages. So I'm practicing in my head and reading a lot.
I have also been reading Eat, Pray, Love, which has been a really great eye-opener. Instead of having the mentality that I need to earn this trip and all the fun things I'm doing, or even just that glass of wine I'm craving. I'm just going to sodding well enjoy it. Deserved or not. Why do we need to
earn simple pleasures? So I'm going out for dinner or lunch every now and then and enjoying it thoroughly, I even foud a cake buffet for 2GBP. Cake. Buffet. Winner. A big shakey fist to you western guilt!
Apart from making lunch, dinner, going to classes and reading an obscene amount I volunteered for a week, which I have decided earns it's own place in my blog.
And while I may be on my own, and on a regular basis I get pitying remarks and comments about how lonely I must be, I'm really not lonely at all. I like my little life of quiet, peace, books and study. I'd rather spend my pennies at a cake buffet and get an early night.
Perhaps I am too old for this travelling lark after all!
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sue hobbins
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Hello there!!
Hi Alex Lovely to read your blog again and hear of your adventures! Go for it, enjoy and smile at people with your super smile and you will as ever be a winner!! We are currently at our cottage in Canada. Andrew arrived yesterday and comes here for 10 days and Emily joins us at the weekend. Lovely warm sunny weather too! Take care love and so glad you are well. Proud of you girl!!! Lots of love Sue xxxx