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Well my friends, its Wednesday night here in Cusco, Ive not gone to cookery tonight as i couldnt stand another long walk. So thought I would do my blog on life in Cusco.
Its one of those places that you love when you first arrive, flying in through the mountains and seeing this village nestled in makes you fell at home. Mind you i have always been one for the mountains thats why I bought that villa in Spain. We will leave that one there.
It is cheap to live here although you dont feel it sometimes, plus when your not just on a two week break you still watch the money. But you have to work it back and you think whoah did i barter over something that cost less than a pound. I have worked it out roughly that you get App 5 sol to the pound. Therefore my lasagne lunch with veg pot of mint tea cost me 4.00.(its is a relief Mccoys open)
On the way home tonight I bought 7 bananas, 2 apples & bag popcorn of a road side trader 5 sol 1.00pd, for the lot. Bottle of small water is 20p and a large one is 60p. So you can see that it is all good value. We barter with taxi drivers over 10p he says 3sol we knock him down to 2.5. Thats mostly the cost around cusco. So I really dont need to walk everywhere but at 5 taxis a day, it soon mounts up to maybe 3.00pd per day.!! I think Ive just talked myself out of walking. Joking apart you need to walk a lot of the time and you do get into the fact that you think you are spending fortunes. But I spend far more a day in Uk just by getting out of bed.
There are street traders everwhere, selling anything from pictures,jewlery, lama sweaters, those beautiful hats,gloves ,finger puppets, paintings homemade anything really. You can have your trainers or flip flops polished to the highest of standards !!! (1sol) 20p plus a massage on every corner(2.00)along with leaflets from every restaurant you pass. Mind you i am one of those now as Im always handing out leaflets for Real Mcoy as they are very quite and struggling. Trouble is because of machu Pichu closed there are not many tourists so many places are going down the tube.
Apparently 1700 tour guides have been laid off so the place is desperate to get up and running. They are hoping for 1st April when Machu is expected to open, lets hope so.Weather has been a little better this last week.
My week is in a pattern now which can get tedious but it is only for another 3 weeks roughly. Mornings are spent at San Juan hospital for the disabled children, I am coping with it better than i thought, its amazing to see this little ones open up when you give them some time. That poor little one that you thought could only just lie there, you have mad laugh, that is the biggest reward you can get.It turns out that you find they have all this love and are actually quite aware of you there. Lunch time can be messy but you have to try and get some food into them.
Some even feed themselves, amazing you would never give your own little ones that oppourtunity, as it goes places but they manage to eat it, be it pudding with dinner all in one mouthful.
At the school kids are amazinly bright and pick up English very quick, put me to shame with my Spanish. They are kids from the hills that dont have much, but watch them play football with a bottle top, they have so much fun, no nastiness or bitterness. really good at it too. I stoped tonight to help with tea, some live in some go home. They have to finish before they get down, most of them gulp it down but a few you see reaching and struggling. Must say at both places glad i dont have to eat it.
Salsa is going okay, but I have droped of the Spainsh as my teacher has left and see no point in the next two weeks with a new one I have plenty to learn.from my last lessons. There are pub quizs, darts,pool & night clubs you can see why most of the youngsters that come here stay on longer. Oh by the way a large beer like pilsner is 6 sol & cocktails can be as little as two for 12 sol. Its easy to get drunk here with the altitude. Plus the peruvian men like the English girls. No I havent !!
This is a computor in the hotel which is free, but it only cost pound an hour in the Internet shops. Really didnt need to bring my computor. Next week I was due home, but have decided to stay here until the first, then either fly home or go on to brazil. I havent decide yet, as the girl is not all that reliable although she promises me once we are travelling it will be different.
Well thats enough for you, will fill you in with more at the weekend. Dont think Im going anywhere. Other than the bakery. Night Night. xx
- comments
claire HIYA crazy one, back from skiing - in detox, rehab now, just on my first peppermint tea of the day! Great to hear all of your tales, so interesting. I felt I was almost there with you in the hospital. it must be heart wrenching. Looking forward to the next instalment! xx
Chris & Geraldine Thanks for the blog...takes us straight back to Cusco & The Sacred Valley which we loved.So sad that M.P. is closed
Pete and Bo Well sounds like you are having a ball!! Still freezin here although manaing the odd game of golf. You have given a taste for travelling again!! Will look forward to all your stories when you get back. Cheers Pete and Bo xx
Steph Hi Sis Great Blogg the way you write makes it sound so intresting keep it up yourll love it when you read it back. Loves you Steph