Monday 11/18
We left at 6:00am to take Charday to the bus terminal, but then she decided to take a taxi the rest of the way. I'm so happy that I was able to find my way back! The trole is PACKED at this hour, and the bus system is so confusing!!! But I made it (by 8:30). I must be a local now.
The trole driver on the way there had SO many questions for me, including how I'm ''so skinny'' when my country revolves around fast food. Haha. I need him around when the local women tell me I should go on a diet!
I ended up having a really good day today! :) I went online for like 4 hours to update my blog and talk to my sister on skype! It was so much fun. At like 3:00 I went in search of a grocery store and stumbled upon a vegetarian restaurant!!!! Miracle of miracles! It was delicious and I inhaled every single bit. Then, on my way home/continuing my grocery store search, I walked past an artesanal store with good prices! [insert Christmas present list here]
After my shopping spree, I found water for my trip and gave up on the grocery store idea. I went to try to catch a bus with all my luggage, but it just seemed too overwhelming so I gave in and paid $22 for a taxi to the airport. It was like 1.5 hours, I think. The ride was super nice... and it just made my awesome day feel even better.
At the airport, I printed my boarding pass and searched out food (before it closed, like LAST time) and decided on... you're not going to believe this (family)... vegetarian sushi! Five rolls for $2.50. I ate sushi once when I went on a date in 2006, and once in Bogota (vegetarian this time) and I liked the veg kind enough to order it by myself. It just seems so... unlike me. I think that if you had told young-Casey (age 10, age 17...) that 27-year-old-Casey would be sitting in an airport in Quito, Ecuador, eating vegetarian sushi, I think she would smile and not believe you. I also ordered an equally-priced $2.50 double-scoop Baskin Robbins chocolate mousse and mint chip waffle cone ice-cream masterpiece for dessert, and I ate it delightfully.
Today just went more-than-perfectly, unplanned. That's my favorite kind of perfect days, too; the ones that just happen.
I think I'll go get on the Internet (yes, $1.20 for 15 minutes!) to check in with my fam, and then bunker down for the night with some books and some sweatpants. I'm so super excited to sleep, I totally didn't sleep more than 5 hours last night. But I am STILL WORRIED that I don't have an alarm clock and I need to check in at 4:00AM!!! Oh boy! So nervous!
Tuesday 11/19
Last night I set up my blanket and pillow next to my luggage and wrote a sign that said (in Spanish and English) ''PLEASE wake me up by 4:00AM if I'm still sleeping!'' Throughout the night I heard a few people laugh as they walked by, and then at 3:30 I heard a man talking loudly right next to me (don't know what he said) but I woke up in time to see that I had 30 minutes before my flight, so I stayed up talking to a little grandma next to me who ended the conversation asking for $2.
I'm sooo tired... I've barely slept the past 2 days. I arrived in Cuzco around 2:30pm today, caught a cab to my couchsurfing place, and kind of explored a little. I've run into like 12 missionaries today at the airport and in town. :)
Wednesday 11/20
I love Peru... so much to see, so much culture, so much vegetarian food!!! I went to the market with Tony (a guy who's also staying here couchsurfing) and there was a protest in town! Huge groups of people walking the streets, escorted by dozens of police officers and riot control officers with shields, gas, batons, and humongous guns. Sooo scary to see the protest with their drums, chanting, walking swiftly, and the shop owners along the streets RUNNING to close their shops before the crowd walked by (to prevent mass robbery, we guessed). They were so loud, walking so fast, and we ran into 3 groups throughout Cuzco! I think they were protesting poor water and living conditions, but one time a man pointed at us and started yelling about the United States, and that's when I got REALLY scared.
On another note... I already have good self-esteem, but it has only increased as I get told at least 10-12 times per day that I'm beautiful, gorgeous, pretty, queen, princess, beautiful eyes, and any combination of compliments on my appearance. I also STILL get called ''gata'' all the time, even in Peru! I thought that was only Ecuador. I kind of like being called gata, though... it's original, and I like how the Spanish word sounds (way better than ''cat''). So... anyway, I don't know what I'm going to do when I get home and no one praises my beauty anymore. I think I could rather get used to this much attention. The staring, not so much... but a quick glance and a compliment every hour is kind of nice! I never doubt that I look amazing, even in a T-shirt and capris or with a sweatshirt!
Thursday 11/21
Today was good! I had a $3.50 pancake with strawberry jam for breakfast, and then went an hour away to Pisaq to see the ruins. I paid $25 for Pisaq plus 2 other places, during 2 days. So tomorrow I guess I'll go to the other 2!
I have to find a new place to stay in the morning, so I'm a little stressed. I have no cash, I have to visit those other ruins, my luggage weighs 1 million pounds, and my suitcase lost a wheel. I'm sure I'll survive though.
Anyway, I went to the market and the ruins, and then I found a super cool vegetarian restaurant where I had tomato basil soup, Indian stir-fry with pasta, coconut and fruit pie, and ginger-fruit tea. Sooooo good! I was overly full but I couldn't not eat every crumb. That cost 18 soles, or about $7. I write so much about food, don't I...
Friday 11/22
I was gonna go to the other ruins today, but I didn't feel like it... kind of glad, though, because it rained a lot this afternoon! I first had a $3 waffle, looked for a hostal, moved my stuff over (and broke the handle off my luggage so now it's missing a wheel AND the handle...), got lunch, and slooowly uploaded some vids. Oh, and I washed laundry, $4.50 for 8 pounds of clothes, same price as Ecuador except I washed less. This is boring.
Sunday 11/24
HAHAHA! I was sitting on a bench in a park when a group of teenagers came over to take pictures in front of some statues. One boy came over to me and asked if I could take a picture with him, but I thought he was asking me to take a picture OF them so I was like, ''sure!'' and got up to take the camera, and he was like, ''No... WITH you, so I can remember you.'' Hahahahaha! So I did it. Awkwardly. I mean, everyone knows I go for younger guys, but 16 is probably pushing it. Why am I not this beautiful in my own country?!
Also... I took Wade (a guy I met in my hostel, from Manasses, VA, age 21) to church with me! That is about all I have to report today!
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