Words from Kate-

I would just like to start out by saying out darn difficult these keyboards are to figure out, and I apologize for any weird inserts... besides that.

Chels and I are currently in Cusco, and I am glad to be here. Partially because of the incredible history surrounding this place, but also because it means we are no longer on a bus. Yesterday we took a Cruz Del Sur bus for about 21 hours, and while it was nice... I think we are both pretty excited to be sleeping in a bed. HOWEVER, we did pay bus bingo (which I almost won) and recieved free headphones, toothbrush & paste, and 4 movies... not bad.

After we settled in to our hostel *Loki* we started walking around the Plaza de Armas -somehow Chels managed to find the nicest restaurant for lunch today. We both had some sort of pasta dish, and quickly went into a carb coma. I Almost ordered the baked Guinea Pig. but decided that meal needed to be purchased from a street vendor to ensure authenticity. After lunch we walked around the market for a bit. It was crazy hectic, and I don´t think I want to hear the phrase *Hecho el mano* again for quite some time. We did find some creeepy mask for 5 soles though, and it was decided that it was going to become the new finger ball of MHS Spanish.

So more about the *Loki*. I´m pretty sure there are at least 100 people there right now, but I geuss the max is 60. It´s all young travelers, and tonight should be a pretty good time. The hostel itself was built out of some old incan ruins, and it´s a really neat place to hang out in.

Right now we are trying to figure out just how we are going to fit Macchu Pichu, The Nazca Lines, The Amazon River, and a ton of other recommended places into 15 days. This is going to be an interesting time.