I had a really great morning today...I got to sleep in!!! For the first time since my arrival in Cuzco! I got up at around 10am, and decided to update my blog, since my mother called me, scolding me for not updating it sooner... I was planning to go to El Molino today. El Molino is a flea market for the locals (not many tourists go there), but we were told that it was an excellent place to bargain and get the best deals in Cuzco. Caitlin and I had planned to go,...

Today, I got up at 7:15. Everyone was already up. Caitlin and I were going to our project again today. Upon getting to Maximo Nivel, I talked to Heidi about the amazing project I had to propose about the Palace of Pachacuti. She thought it would be a great idea and thought that we should all meet next week. When Caitlin and I arrived to our project, all of the kids recognized us right away. I waived at a few of them. My favorites were Ruth Kelly, Yesmenia, Melan...

We all got up today at 6:15am because we were going to visit the old ruins of the palace of Pachacuti. Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui was the ninth King (1438-1471/1472) of the Kingdom of Cuzco. In Quechua, Pachakutiq means "He who remakes the world". During his reign, Cuzco grew from a hamlet into an empire that could compete with, and eventually overtake, the Chimu. He began an era of conquest that, within three generations, expanded the Inca dominion from t...

Today was going to be an amazing day! Jose was able to get us really good tickets for 35$ (not Soles!) for a guided tour as well as reserved seats to Inti Raymi. Spencer and I were the only ones that did not pay yet so we had to get up a little earlier to pay the tour company. We left at 8 o´clock and when we got there, the company told us that there were no more seats available, but that if we wanted to sit on the floor in the tour bus, we could for only 25$. S...

So today, I was starting my volunteering...or so I thought. I was meeting with Heidi (the director for Maximo Nivel) at 9 o´clock. Breakfast was good, but small. I was also not really getting used to the high altitude. I had a headache and a lot of gas. I was told to just drink Coca tea. Coca leaves act as a mild stimulant and suppresses hunger, thirst, pain, and fatigue. They are used my the natives for altitude sickness. It is what cocaine is derived from, but...