Hoiday Weekend!

Last Thursday was Peru's Independence Day but because their country likes to have a reason to celebrate both Thursday and Friday were holidays, which meant I didn't have school either of those days. We had planned to go to Arequipa and the Colca Canyon but we hadn't booked anything, one friend ended up having to work and then 2 others wanted to stay in Cusco to explore the ruins and museums close by. So we all decided to stay in Cusco which meant we had 4 days to do anything.

All of us wanted to go to Moray (more ruins), which is located in the Sacred Valley but not included on a tour of the Valley so we decided to book a trip there and to the Salineras (salt mines) on Friday. We were supposed to get picked up at La Casa between 8:30 and 8:45am, well around 8:45 they called and said to meet at the agency because it would be quicker. We took a taxi to the square and met at the agency, it took forever but we finally got on the bus and then proceeded to drive around the square for a while, waiting for more people. We left Cusco, probably around 10, this is not unusual for Peru, the people here are always late. Never get somewhere early because it's pointless. On our way to Moray we stopped in Chincero for forever it felt like, to use the bathroom and watch a demonstration of weaving. The whole time to Chincero the tour guide talked on the microphone on the bus, I can't imagine what he could've been talking about and it was hard to hear him anyway because he had the microphone shoved into his mouth. I just put my iPod on and enjoyed the beautiful views. We finally got to Moray, which is amazing, it looks like something out of LOST. Its a huge circle with terraces built as inner circles going deeper and deeper into the ground. This was used as a laboratory for the Incas so they could make things grow at higher altitudes. Soil was brought in from different parts of Peru for each terrace and they say that each one varies 5 degrees in temperature. We were able to walk around and explore then it was off to the salt mines.

The Salineras are pools of water and salt on the side of a mountain. Where the salt comes from, I don't know, how it works I'm not quite sure. But 80% of the pools were original to the Incas and then the other 20% were more recently built. This naturall phenomenon is suppose to produce wonderful salt and is regarded as the best by the people of Cusco. I bought a small pouch of it (if it's actually from the salt mines, who knows) as well as corn kernels and these popped kernals, like popcorn but not fluffy just the hard, crunchy kernel (these are my favorite).

When we got back to town, around 3pm, we were starving and thirsty because there had been no time for lunch. So we decided to go to Patty's Pub, an Irish place by the square. It's definitely not Peruvian food but it provides a menu in an American's comfort zone and is delicious. I had the Shepard's Pie, which I'm not a huge fan of back home but I wanted something homey and comforting and I had heard it was good. And it was, this was down right the best Shepard's Pie I have ever had. I had ground beef and other veggies then two scoops of mashed potatoes then a white, cream sauce. It was amazing, Cristian had the chicken Caesar salad wrap (which is only the second place I've seen serving Caesar salad) which looked delicious as well. We came back to the house and I watched Harry Potter part 1, even in Peru I'm addicted to Harry.

Friday some of us got up and agreed to go horse back riding (keep in mind I've never really ridden a horse before). We tried one place but it cost 70 soles so we went up to Sacsayhuaman where we paid 25 soles. It took me three tries to get on the horse, which probably wasn't a good indication of what was to come. There were a lot of us in the group and so we all started down this road. While most of us were clumped together, Lauren's horse decided he wanted to be the leader and took off, not running but going much faster than us. She later named it el diablo (the devil). We got the temple of the moon but all I could think about was that I would have to get back on that horse. Lauren told the kid that she was walking back and I guess he could sense my nerves because he took the reins and walked my horse and me back. I was extremely grateful to get back to the ranch and get off the horse for good. We had lunch and then took a taxi back to the house.

Later that evening Paola and I went to a handicraft market to buy souvenirs then met people to go to the Molino (black market). This was my first time there and it was must nicer than I expected. Even though what their doing is illegal it's tolerated by the police and in fact there was one standing at the entrance when I walked in. We went there mainly to buy pirated movies and TV seasons. You can find pretty much anything and it's all very cheap 6 soles for 2 Harry Potter movies, that's a little more than $2. Yes you take the chance that there bad quality, don't work or not in English but they're so cheap, you can take that chance. We walked around and saw everything from clothes, to shoes, to electronics, home goods to North Face jackets.

Sunday we had booked a tour of the South Valley (Tipon, Pikillaqta and Andahuaylillas). Tipon was great it had all these waterfalls and canals for irrigation. Then we went to Pikillaqta which is the first place I've seen not built by the Incas but by the Wari (or Huari) culture during pre-Inca times. Although it's accepted that the Incas emerged and then took over these cultures such as the Wari, my Art teacher believes that instead the Wari are the Incas and that their culture grew into the great Andean Empire. Then came the church, in Andahuaylillas, which is supposedly a "replica" of the Sistine Chapel. I still have no idea why they think this is a replica of the Sistine Chapel, it looks nothing like it. Yes it has beautiful paintings on the ceiling but of a pattern not figures and images like in the Vatican. Really it's nothing special and doesn't look anything like the Sistine Chapel.

When we got back I made lunch with some of my homemade bread I had bought when we stopped at a bakery. Then proceeded to watch Harry Potter 6 and 7 part 1 (again), made soup for dinner and went out to get cake with Paola and Cristian then came back and watched part of Harry Potter 5 on TV. It was a great weekend and I'm glad I stayed in Cusco and was able to relax and go on some day trips. I only have 2 weeks left here and next weekend we're going to Machu Picchu. It's going to fly by and before I know it I'll be back in Bethel, ME with my momma:)