Cusco: Weekend 3

Cusco street scene
Plaza de Armas

A couple of interesting things happened this weekend. Haley was visited by a doctor and found out she has a parasite, and that's why she's been so sick. She thinks it's from the ice in drinks out at clubs. Lucas (a TEFL student who Andrew is now living with) had his email broken into by someone who sent his mum emails saying he's been kidnapped and needs ransom money. And in Lima a guy held up a bank with 30 hostages inside for over 7 hours on Saturday, demanding 2 million soles and a helicopter to escape. A police sniper crawled through a ventilation duct and shot him to end it. That was all over the news on repeat on Sunday.

On Saturday I went to the free salsa lesson offered by Maximo Nivel. It was hilarious. I was so unco but then got better and was partnered with a teenage Peruvian guy who could seriously move his hips. Then that night just hung out at one of the volunteer houses where Sarah & Haley live watching movies.. I wish I'd been able to move houses, it's so much more fun and sociable than my homestay!
Cusco street scene

On Sunday I was meant to do a Sacred Valley tour of all the Inca ruins around here, but I'd forgotten to book it. Plus it was raining so it would have been a bit crap. I bumped into Andrew, Candice and Lucas on the street and ended up spending all day with them at San Pedro market, then at their apartment in a dodgy neighbourhood, then out at a bar up near the plaza. Also there was a huge soccer game on today. The streets were blocked off for parades of crazy red-clad supporters, Jenny said she stood in the rain for two hours in the queue to get into the stadium but the line didn't move so she gave up!
Dried llama foetus at a witch's stall in San Pedro market

Inca foundations under Spanish walls

Rainy season has definitely started, I'm wearing my hiking boots almost every day because of the mud!