Well, it´s my second day in Cusco. I feel a bit emotional. Partly scared (not sure what I am expecting of myself or what I expected of the town - probably sth exotic, which it is not), and partly sad because of all the poverty I see.

I am sure it is some sort of prejudiced part of me that is looking at it now in this way, having read its history and the cruel invatson of the Spanish, for when I look at the people, I don´t see desperation. I have seen smiling faces. Sometimes persistent sellers wanting to sell you their stuff. And I wonder how much their life depends on it. I see happy faces, humble individuals and sometimes the odd nervous taxi driver, going about his business of driving nervously. I do not know what they are thinking. I wonder if they look at all the foreigners as just a source of income, who leave them alone. They feel uninterupted to live their own life, unashamedly so, as poor as it is. They have the peace of their family. They seem content.

The place where I am staying at is a cosy little hostel. A bit like a Macedonian An. The rooms are above the loby, steep wooden stairs leading to them. Mine opens and closes with a pedlock. The door to it is made out of two very tiny dark red doors. There is a big double bed with many blankets on it. It is stuck next to the window, out of which you can see Cusco in the distance, and some ruined houses in the immediate vicinity. Many roofs made out of "keramidi", some unfinished. I felt threatened by them when I first looked at them yesterday, but today, on the balcony of one I saw a family having breakfast. They seem unquestionably content. At night, it is beautiful to watch the lights in the distance.

I wonder if I am telling myself that I have to immerse myself into the life of all the people totally. I think a detached view would probably do me better. And them. I´ll think about how I can do that this afternoon.

And now I have to go, drink 1L of water in the hope that the knot in my chest, which I hope is caused by altitude sickness (but also a bit of anxiety) will go away.

Love,

Svetl - anna :-)