Day 50

Can't believe I have been gone from the States for 50 days.

The other day I was in a car driving down one of the main avenues, and I just came to the realization that I love this city.  The people here are amazing.  There is a little market that is near the Plaza de Armas that I like to go to.  There are two little shops in there that I love to go to and talk to the people who sell things.  Christina is one of the ladies, and she is going to teach me to knit!  Angela and I don't remember her husband are in the other shop, and they are really sweet.  One of my favorite shop keepers, I forgot his name, has been gone for the past week. :(.  Christina said he went on vacation and should be back next week though.  :)

On Saturday we went to Pisaq, and around.  Here are some pictures from our little excursion. 

 These three pictures are from our first stop in Awana Kancha.  It is a llama and alpaca farm.  The lady is spinning the wool into thread.  It was really cool to watch, she would spin the wool as the top was spinning, so it would collect.  It was an interesting process.  Then there is an alpaca (or llama) honestly I don't really know the difference.  The last picture is of a little stream that flows next to the road and farm there.

The next few photos are from Pisaq and Ollantaytambo, I think.  I get confused with what place is which.  It is a beautiful country here for sure though!  The first picture is with the clouds sitting on the mountains, I don't know why this amazes me still, but to think we are literally living among the clouds is kind of a cool though.  The fourth picture is of different levels.  The Incas used them for different things such as agriculture, religious practices, and other things.  The fifth and third of are Inca ruins.  The fifth is a fountain of good luck, you're supposed to dip your hands in it.

 The first picture is of Magda and myself, and the second is with Taylor.  She is from Michigan. 

 

The first picture is from the mountain that we hiked.  Thankfully we went all down hill and not up.  I have no idea how many stairs there were, but before we hiked there, I thought going down the stairs was the easy part.  At the bottom though, I thought my legs were going to give out they were shaking so bad.  It was a great hike though, and I would recommend that anyone who comes to Cusco visit it.  The third is a flower, obviously.  The flowers here are beautiful, and grow naturally everywhere.

This picture is from Ollantaytambo, I believe.  It is Inca ruins, you can hike to the top, and see the Temple of the Sun(?)  I should blog when we go on these trips, because I forget a lot of things right after we get back.

 

The next three pictures are just of the landscape here.  It is so beautiful.  I love Cusco, but I honestly wouldn't mind living out in these areas either.

 Hope everyone is doing well back home.  I am headed to classes, and then off to the square with two of the other students.  Today will be a great day!

My love to all,

Emily