So I wasn’t sure whether or not it was worth posting something to cover four days before I leave, but then I figured that everyone’s lives would be sad and empty for almost two weeks until I have internet again after Easter anyway, so why deny the world the pleasure of my company longer than necessary?

Then again, it’s not like the last couple of days have been overly interesting. They’ve mostly been spent planning and working out logisitcs for Hong Kong and my ten day southern Peru/Northern Chile/whatever I happen to get distracted by trip.

Tuesday night I went church hopping. I visited the Convento de Santa Catalina in Qoricancha since I hadn’t seen the inside of the acutal church before. It smelled like smoke since it’s the only church I’ve been to so far which still uses real candles as opposed to electric ones. Then, I went to the Cathedral where they apparently play a recording of a Quechua Mass at 6pm. At 6:30 however, they started chanting the Lord’s Prayer (in Spanish of course) for nearly 20 minutes. I expected it to be an actual mass, so I left. But about half way through four dogs came in sand started running around the sanctuary barking and chasing each other. One of them paused for a moment, stared at the altar and organ at the front, and then crawled under a pew. The others quickly followed, and it was really cute. I also went to La Iglesia San Merced on the way to the San Pedro Market. I thought about going all the way to Iglesia San Pedro but I was alone, it was dark, and it’s not exactly the best area.

I came home to a party! Apparently tonight was our host father’s birthday but no one knew! So I walked into a circle of about 15 adults drinking and dancing. I ate in my room since I was really tired, but then came back out and joined the party. It’s the first time I’ve had people literally forcing me to drink. I’m not really sure how my glass kept getting refilled, but it did. Mmm, beer. They’d bought about four cases and half way through someone showed up with another two (pilsen, cuesquena, and trujillo if you’re curious). One woman fell asleep on the couch and we woke up in the morning to bottles everywhere and a few forgotten jackets and sweaters. Mari and Willy were both hungover in the morning, lol. I’ve never really seen adults hung over before, so that was fun. It’s also one of those alcohol and age things since I was out by midnight but just had a slight headache when I woke up.

So Wednesday afternoon our political science teacher never showed up. We waited for him for about an hour which I mostly spent figuring out where to stay in Tacna and Arica (I already made the reservations for Cabanaconde and I know a place in Arequipa where a friend stayed) especially since I’ll arrive in those cities in the late afternoon and possibly after dark. They’re both large touristy areas, especially Arica since it’s on the beach, but the international border makes it a popular area for thieves/drug dealers/bad people. I also finally got to catch up with Abhishek, a cousin who just graduated from IIM Banglore, since he just got back from 10 days of travel around eastern India.

I spend the late afternoon wandering around Cusco, as so many late afternoons are spent. I found a pretty cool art gallery (oil paintings and scupture mostly) and hailed a cab for two American girls around my age who couldn’t read a map and thought they were next to Qoricancha while they were almost at the San Pedro Market (about a 20 minute walk away). While I was reading in the Plaza de Armas and singing to myself, two little kids came and sat next to me and started singing A Whole New World from Aladdin! Naturally, I joined in and we started playing. I ended up talking to their parents and Juan, an Argentinian who’s lived in Cusco for 21 years now, for about 2 hours! It was crazy. Sandra and Victor, the kids’ parents, are only visiting Cusco for a few days before returning to Lima. Fun conversations with random people. We’re going to lunch later this afternoon at a small vegetarian place. (A delicious lunch for s/5, dinner is s/4 = under $2 for lunch.)

I got home exhausted around 8:30, ate dinner, and was out by 9:15. A few students in my group went dancing, but I was way too tired. Plus, I need to be fresh for Thursday. My bus leaves at 7pm.

BTW, the bus ticket from Cusco to Arequipa, about 10 hours, cost me s/20, which is about $7. I count that as a win. I’ve also been stocking up slowly but surely on useful food. So far I’ve got CHOCOLATE!! I found it for 1 sol/100g, so we’ll see if it’s any good, lots of raisins, peanuts, and a can of tuna which I originally bought for the Paracas trip but never used. I’m also going to take cheese, oatmeal, bread, jam, butter, a bit of sugar, and some carrots or other hard veggies/fruits to snack on. Basic? Yes, but I can live with that. Fruit is apparently good and cheap in Arequipa, plus it obviously doesn’t travel well. I was thinking about hardboiled eggs, but that seems like too much trouble. I also made reservations for my first two nights in this adorable looking hostel called PachaMama in the canyon for s/12 a night for dorm-style accommodations. They provide breakfast too, which will be nice. A friend of mine stayed there a couple weeks ago and said it was absolutely wonderful, so that was encouraging. I also have recommendations for a place in Arequipa for s/20 a night, and found names in Tacna and Arica, but I’m concerned about making reservations since I’m not sure if I’ll be back in Arequipa soon enough or if I’ll have to find a hostel in Corire, where the petroglyps I want to go to are. Obviously Arica and Tacna are subject to bus times. But I can’t tell you too much about what my plans are since that’ll ruin the surprise.

And because I’m not certain myself. Planning too much at this stage is useless since plans are even more unpredictable than the bus schedules, but I tend to be OCD about my organization and for some reason feel the need to bore everyone with hopeless logistics.

So far as packing goes, the obvious rule is the lighter the better. However, Arequipa and the canyon are hot while Lauca National Park in Chile is supposed to be freezing, like Cusco, because of the altitude. Fortunately I’ve planned about 4 days in each place, so I should be able to get by with minimal weight.. Mildly gross, yes, but definitely more than the bare minimum. (which would have been leggings, camping pants, and 2 short sleeved 1 long sleeved shirt) I’m willing to sacrifice comfort and a bit of hygeine in favor of not having to lug the universe around. Plus, normally the traveler’s mantra proves true “pack everything you need, and then take half the clothes and twice the money”

I also feel slightly clever since normally US citizens have to pay $131ish just to enter Chile, but since I’m arriving by land, not air, I can pass for free. Hahaha! It’s a well known fact, but I’m still excited since I feel like I’m beating the system.

I might have intermittent internet during that time, but since I can’t guarantee anything, it’s better to assume that I won’t have it.

Right then, I will ‘see’ you all in about two weeks! Happy Holy Week and Easter!

-Geeta