Lleguemos en Cuzcooooooo

After a ten-hour bus ride following a three-hour wait in a bus station hellhole following a two-hour walk in the sun to the station, we're in CUZCO! The bus ride was crazy, but I managed to drift in and out enough to have energy for today, at least until ciesta. The guys, no. They're pretty haggard, so it's mealtime and then nap time. The bus needed lots of internal repair on bulkheads and rivets and such, and so consequently it was very loud with rattles all night. There was a fanatical guy talking to our Israeli buddy from the last hostal for probably three hours about cryptically biblical references. In Spanish, the language that Stav doesn't really speak. After a while, I offered to tell the guy to stuff himself and quiet down, but Stav instead just put in headphones and started reading. That got the point across pretty well. I sat next to a really cool dude named Martín (like my best friend), also Peruvian, who studies linguistics just like me! So I had a cool elaborate conversation about the pros and cons of Spanish and literature and whatever else.
Upon arriving at the bus station in Cuzco at about 8:00, I found that I have this GIANT spider bite on the insole of my left foot. Presumably it's a spider bite, although I've had my boots on for the last two days, so who knows how it got there. It's a pretty fierce size and I've had to cut and drain it a few times. Oh well, keep it clean, dress it, and gut it out I guess.
The city is fabulous so far. We've only been here for about 4 hours, but it's very clean, it contains ancient and unbelievably exquisite architecture, and it's much cooler in the daytime because of the altitude and how much more green it is. Obviously, it's a tourist law that we see Machu Picchu, so we're off to compare prices and timing within the next three days or so. The city is really fun to navigate, and there are plenty of steep streets, open plazas, beautifully manicured terraced yards and courtyards, ancient cobblestone roads, and cultural reminders that this city used to be the center of the Incan Empire. Until Pizarro smashed it into rubble following an Incan revolt. Nevertheless, we're sure to have fun and hopefully change the vibes for Arequipa.
I wish my camera were better. The architecture here was accomplished with little more than rock tools and hammers, and there are some 10 ton bricks sealed together with PERFECT seams and no mortar or concrete. It boggles the mind how these people assembled such a magnificent and enormous mass of buildings without cranes, jackhammers, concrete, or electricity. Unfortunately, I know that a wealth of 20,000 slaves is how it all came to be. Irregardless, it's a treat to be here and I'll take all the photos I can. Shoot, I better start to upload them, too. It's not confirmed yet, but Andy may have lost his camera today. ATM card, and then camera. Maybe he needs a new filing system.
Internet's running out and it's lunch time. I'm tempted to eat some cuy here, which is guinea pig. Probably not for lunch today, since it's a sort of delicacy, but this week. I don't think I'd be grossed out, even though it's a rodent. I've already eaten parrot, snake, and llama on this trip. Why not a cute, furry oversized mouse? It reminds me of that South Park Episode about the Peruvian flute bands and the guinea spiders. Hollah, anybody who knows that one. Or two, I guess.
I'm rummy from lack of food, so this blog's O-vaaaaah. Hope y'all enjoyed it, and I'll be sure to hit it again and again and again and again until I come home.

Live in love, gente.
Brad