Staying in Cuzco for a bit

The internet here really, REALLY sucks, so this blog will be short. On our "last night" two nights ago, Andy and Pat were asking themselves why exactly we were going to leave. We like Cuzco a lot, so why go? I was out dancing, so yesterday morning when they told me that, we decided to change the dates on our bus tickets. We'll be in Cuzco until Tuesday the 14th now.
Mostly, it's a period of rest and comfort until we get back to camping and stuff in Pisco. I can't wait to get back to the ocean. Not much is really going on here, just some good reading, seeing the sights, long walks all around the city, and sleeping late. Today, we plan to hike up a substantial hill to the base of this giant statue of Jesus. The Cusqueños erected it at the onset of World War II to prevent the war from coming to Perú. I guess it worked. It's about a mile and a half to get there, and then I want a photo of the city from the great view up there and a photo of Jesus.
Sorry to disappoint those who've been living vicariously through my harrowing wildness, but even young people need rest sometimes. There are some real adventurous moments here, though:
1. Darting in and out of the psychotic Peruvian traffic is like playing a game of Frogger.
2. Avoiding the constant bombardment of salespeople selling Peruvian flutes, knitted clothes, cigarettes (even 5-year-olds do it), cheap food, postcards, paintings, and occasionally drugs.
3. Deciding what food is safe to eat and what isn't.
4. Not getting suckered into tipping the cute little Peruvian kids with authentic clothes and little goats.
5. Staying away from all the bloody tourists.
6. Not sleeping too late or pissing off the hostal owners by coming in at 4 in the morning.
7. More to come...


Another few days here and we'll do a 16-hour overnight bus ride to Pisco. Then it's ocean, new people, a new city, camping, sand dunes, ruins, a lagoon, and all kinds of other stuff we've heard of. I'm outta here, stay tuned for more TALES OF INTEREST!

B