During the week the older boys, Cesar and I have been working on the costumes for their upcoming festival on July 5th. Cesar is very creative and the boys love flirting with all the girls at the womens center. On Friday after before lunch I went to the park and played some futbol with a group of the boys. I think is goes without saying that I got smoked. I did have a lot of fun however and they keep asking me to play so I guess I am not to much of a disappointment. At the start of the game we all gave 50 cents and I guessed it was to go to the winning team(I know gambling with the kids, shame on me, but I couldn´t play without putting in. It's their park). When the game was over they gave evryone their 50 cents back so I am still confused as to what the heck that was.
That afternoon I left for Pisac and Michelle once again was up for the adventure. We hired a van(5soles each) for the 1 hour ride and set off with my backpack strapped to the top. When we got to Pisac we grabbed Michelle a hostel and then I set off alone to grab a campsite at The Royal Inca Resort. I was dead set on camping for the 2 nights because I had brought my gear all the bway here and if I didn't use it I was going to punch myself in the face. 20 soles a night and I had my own little fenced in area with a firepace, light and outle(really roughing it). I also had full use of the facility which had an olympic size pool, gameroom and showers(hot). It turned out that Cesar and a load of his friends were cvamping right next to me. WE cruised around Pisac(great little village with a massive market) and grabbed a bight to eat at a place called Mullu. Our server there(who I got to know quite well over the 2 days) was named Diego and he is the Peruvian Kramer!!! Again I have a ton of pictures but I can't post them here. We made plans for the morning and I set off for my campsite. Cesar and his friends had told me to meet them at the hot tub when I got back but I didn't know where it was and I was a little shy because of my lack of spanish. I layed back in my hammock and read my book(Running The Amazon, great book) by the light of my headlamp. About an hour later Cesar and his friends came back and were in full party mode. I was already half asleep and loving my hammock so I stayed put and dozed while a party raged around me. I woke in the morning to first light and nread some more then enjoyed a dip in the pool and a hot shower. Michelle and I then had breakfast(awesome all you can eat pancakes for 8 soles) at the Blue Llama which has great food and even better decor. Then we grabbed a cab to the ruins(All you can eat pancakes wiped out the idea of hiking) and enjoyed the day up there until about 1pm. While up there we met a truck driver originally from Lima but now lives in Florida(Christian), took some great pictures with him and bid farewell. We hiked back down to the town and grabbed lunch at Mullu and hung out with Diego amd a great guy from Lima named Steven. I have Steven's info and I hope to see him on my couple of days in Lima, he knows the town and I don't. Michelle headed back because she was headed back to the states in the morning and I lost myself in the market for about 3 hours. Whkle shopping I met Leonardo(not the ninja turtle) who had a booth wher he sold rugs, t-shirts and tapestries. We chatted for a while and sucked down the remainder iof the wine that I had bought at Mullu. I picked up a couple of thigs and he gave me some gifts as well. He also said that if I come back to Pisac I can find him in the same place and he will not hear of me staying anywhere but at his house with him and his family. After shopping I went back to my campsite and relaxed a bit before I gt hungry again and walked back to the town plaza for dinner at Mullu. When I walked in Diego and Steven were in the employee room downstairs watching a movie and invited me in . He gave me the code for the internet(which never did work) and I stayed and watched a great movie with them(Gato Negro, Gato Blanco by director Emir Kusturika). After the movie we all headed upstairs to the restaurant and we ate, had drinks and just cahtted until about 3 hours after close. Also hanging out we Miguel(the manager) and two mmore of their friends who I can't remember their names. I loved it, something abnout being in a restaurant after hour with good conversation that really makes a memory for me. They all headed out to find a party and as tempting as it was I headed back to my campsite for a good nights sleep in my hammock. The next day was about saying goodbye, exchanging info and figuring out how to fit all the crap I bought in my bag. 4soles and and hour later I ws back in Cusco and sitting on the porcxh of my host families house because I lost my keys(shit). 6 and a half hours later they came home and I pathetically explained in my crappy spanish what happened.
Monday I worked with the kids all day by myself and it was ok but chalenging. I stick to math and that seems to be the best. The Inti Raymi is also getting into full gear and kicked off with a fireworks display last night. Today we went to work with Cesar again and after I sai goodbye to him. I also met Wendy who is from So-Cal and we have been in touch bbefore this because we found out we would be down here at the same time. It is nice to finally put a face to a name. I am cooking dinner tonight foe Marta, Glorinda and Juan so I better go. More to come soon I hope, but who knows with this place. :-) Adios and asta ???
