Stepping out

Today I went to el centro alone. It felt really exciting to be going out by myself for the first time. I took the Huancaro there instead of a taxi. Huancaro is one of the many transportation vans in Cusco. They slightly resemble the dollar vans in Flatbush but are cheaper- only .60 cents in Peruvian Soles. That's only a little more than 20 cents in USD. 

Walking to the bus stop from Luz's house

View from the bus stop. The neighborhood protected by
barbed wire in the foreground is a community for
soldiers and their families.

View from the bus. Women selling fruit.

Another baby sack.

Once I got off the bus, with the help of the map Luz gave me and my memory I made my way to La Plaza de Armas in hopes of getting my usual soy iced latte from Starbucks. It's slightly embarrassing that I'm still drinking Bux in Peru, but it feels safe in there and the view from the balcony is the best. On my way there, I saw another peace demonstration protesting terrorism. This time there were just posters, but I learned more about Peru's history with terrorism. From what I've gathered from Luz and the internet, it seems that there was a surge of terrorism in the 1980's that pretty much died down in 2000. I'm unsure if there are any persisting problems or if these demonstrations are just to inform the people and pray for peace.

 

My rough translation: "We must stop sleeping.
We must wake up. We are whole, we have heads,
hands and feet to reclaim our rights. We have
a head and a heart to speak and not shut up for
anyone."

The fallen. R.I.P.

I then continued on my mission to get caffeinated. On my way there was a man with a tiny guitar. I thought it was a Ukulele and got excited because I meant to buy one before I left, but it was a Charango. On the back was a picture of Machu Picchu. He pointed out the face that the mountains make which I had heard about but was never able to see from pictures. If you tilt your head to the right you can see how the largest mountain is the nose, the hills to the lefts are the lips and the last is the chin.

And then, finally, I made it to Starbucks. But to my dismay, they didn't have any water and couldn't give me the beverage I desired. I bought a bottle of water instead and went outside.

Desserts at the Peruvian Bux ain't got nothin' on los Estados
Unidos.

 I sat on the balcony, reading my tourist books, deciding where I want to go and what I want to see.

Next stop: Mercado Central de San Pedro.

This market is only a few blocks away from La Plaza de Armas. Here you can buy clothing, bags, jewelry, meat, dairy, fresh juice and more. I was in search of a large purse with a zipper and adjustable strap so that it could be worn across my body. This is the safest way to guard your things from pickpockets, according to Luz.

I haven't eaten any of the food or fresh juice in this market because it doesn't look that sanitary and Peru is known to give tourists stomach problems whether it be from the water, street food or fruit that wasn't well washed.  I'm thankful that I haven't had any problems. The travel doctor told me I should use bottled water to brush my teeth, but the first day I forgot and used tap water and I'm ok. Also Luz's family is careful to be super sanitary with all their food preparation.

Day Two in Cusco

After a long delay waiting for Luz's cousin's sister in law to pick us up, we took a taxi (which only cost 3 soles. 1 sol = .39 cents)  to el centro to try and activate the phone I used in Uruguay.

After an unsuccessful first attempt we went to La Plaza del Armas, the true center of the city. We took a really cute cobble stone street to get there where there were children playing and women with baby llamas only 7 weeks old. I couldn't resist. I was a total tourist and posed with them and their adorble animals.

Click to enlarge

There are a LOT of babies, toddlers and children around. All so precious. . . .

 We were going to go to a bookstore so that I could get a phrase book and a Spanish-English dictionary, but when I saw Starbucks...I offered to buy Luz a drink. Of course.. right? Turns out that the view from the balcony of Starbucks is phenomenal. Plus the caffine gave me more confidence to talk more and try new Spanish words and phrases I'd learned.

Then, it was time to return home for lunch. Luz bought one of the llama hats for her dog, Peluche meaning fluffy. She was not amused, but managed to sit still for a picture.

Luz y Peluche

Luz's parents

When we returned to the city center in the evening to buy a new telephone and run some errands I got a six month phone plan for S 45 per month and there was a promotion going on so I got a really cute LG phone that has internet, TV and other fancy options for only S 9. Not even 4 dollars! I'm definitely not going to use any of those fancy features, but it's pretty incredible how inexpensive things are down here.  

We then revisited La Plaza del Armas which is stunning at night..

Indigenous peoples protesting terrorism outside the Cathedral

Next stop, la tienda de plastico. Yes, the plastic store. Perhaps we have these in the states as well, but if so I have never seen one. I was amazed at how many there were and how much each of them had to offer. And that they even exist. 

Most of the babies in Cusco are carried on their mothers backs in a makeshift baby sling made out of a piece of fabric. I love these babies. They all look so wise. 

Finally, we returned home for dinner where we found her parents watching Yo Soy! We watched this show last night at dinner as well. Contestants come on and try to impersonate famous singers. Most don't even hit the mark, and I know that American Idol and those other shows have similar audition episodes, but these episodes are two hours of contestants trying so earnestly to impress the harsh judges and to a foreigner who knows 1/100 of the singers, it's not that interesting. But regardless, it's fun pretending to be a judge with Luz. She is so sweet.

After dinner I promptly returned to my room so that I could make my Skype date with James. The best!

Only he would show me his dance theater choreography over Skype and teach me how to do it.. :)

 Another day in Cusco. As I was riding in the taxi, taking in my surroundings once again, the city began to feel more familiar. This morning and today it's really started to sink in that I'm going to be here for 5 months. Luz has offered to both help me find work, once I'm a little more confident in my Spanish, and set me up with the nearby Elementary school to see if I can volunteer by teaching Theater. Wow. What a blessing it is to have found Luz and her family who are so giving and kind. I thought I would just be sleeping and eating here, on my own mostly, but Luz told me that she always takes her guests around Cusco so that they can gain confidence to explore on their own. As a first time international lone traveler, I'm very appreciative. 

Aquí Estoy

It was my last night in the lap of modern luxury. In Lima at the Hotel Costa del Sol I watched RuPaul with Spanish subtitles, skyped with my loved ones and declined the free drink the hotel offered. I sank into the downy sheets, rested my head on the perfectly plump pillow and felt happy. I was finally in Peru.

I was awoken by the telephone at 4 am. I allowed myself to relish in my cloud-like cocoon for 5 more minutes and then with an air of excitement, precaution and readiness I made my way to the airport just across the street.

On the plane I was lucky enough to be the only passenger seated in my row of three. I stretched out and fell asleep. As I awoke I saw the most beautiful mountain range I've ever seen. Awe-stricken I marveled at the heap of land rising out of the earth and the majesty that the crown-like snow seemed to imbue. Then I scrambled to grab a camera. I have with me a disposable, a simple digital point and shoot and my iPhone. The iPhone is the best quality and most easily shareable, but was turned off for the flight. So I grabbed the other two and stared snapping pictures knowing they couldn't possibly compete with what  my eyes had witnessed.

I was greeted at Aeropuerto de Cusco by my homestay host Luz (which means light in English). Luz is a lively woman. Caring, informative, petite and pregnant with twins. Though 6 months along, I didn't even notice until she told me she couldn't lift anything and pointed out her belly.

The taxi dropped us off at Luz's place- a store front the leads to a beautiful two story home.  Modest, cute and cozy.  I already feel right at home. Similar to Frida Kahlo's home in Mexico it's center is more like an open air plaza. I met her parents with whom she lives. They are small and sweet.  All the doorways are quite small, perfect for my size.

 

After setting my things in my room, Luz invited me downstairs for cocoa tea. Delicious, sublte and relaxing, everyone in Peru drinks cocoa tea and tourists are urged to drink it to help with adjusting to the altitude. Cusco is 11,203 ft above sea level. She also offered me some freshly baked bread, slightly reminiscent of challa in taste, that was delicious. Her mother goes to the market and buys it fresh every morning.  I plan on rising at 6 one of these mornings so I can experience it warm, even more freshly baked. 

                            Cocoa tea

Fresh bread and mango juice

Indigenous peoples say that Cusco is the naval of the world. The Inca Cross is a partial representation of this. Here's what wikipedia has to say about the Inca Cross:

The Chakana (or Inca Cross, Chakana) symbolizes for Inca mythology what is known in other mythologies as the World Tree, Tree of Life and so on. The stepped cross is made up of an equal-armed cross indicating the cardinal points of the compass and a superimposed square. The square represents the other two levels of existence. The three levels of existence are Hana Pacha (the upper world inhabited by the superior gods), Kay Pacha, (the world of our everyday existence) and Ucu or Urin Pacha (the underworld inhabited by spirits of the dead, the ancestors, their overlords and various deities having close contact to the Earth plane). The hole through the centre of the cross is the Axis by means of which the shaman transits the cosmic vault to the other levels. It also represents Cuzco, the center of the Incan empire, and the Southern Cross constellation.

Inca Cross

lovelovelove

In a fortnight..

I will be on my way to Peru...

Shit's getting real.

But as my Mama says, a plan alleviates unnecessary worry. I'm prepared, I've planned, I'm ready. I just can't believe it's actually happening. If anything, I'm excited to get out of this country and stop seeing so many worried faces. I know it's out of love and caring concern, but do you need to frantically ask me, "Are you going with a program?! Do you have family there!? Do you know anyone there!? Do you have a job set up already!?"

I calmly reply, "No. No. No. No."

I got faith. As Grandaddy says, faith is the most important asset of all. If you got faith, it doesn't matter what the material circumstances around you look like. Because deep in your heart, you know the universe has got your back. We all have gone through hard times, trials and tribulations, but it's not about what circumstance might befall you, it's about how you handle it once you get there. And at the core of it, that's really what this trip is about. Faith. Getting out of this wonderful yet privileged, comfortable society. Expansion. Exploration. Growth. Presence. And becoming fluent in Spanish so that I become a bilingual actress and work with all of the wonderful directors and actors the Spanish-speaking world has to offer.

I know that I will most likely settle in the U.S. for the majority of my life. I know, and have always known, that I will be an actress, writer and artist in the film and television industry. But I also know that for whatever reason, this trip needs to happen. I can't explain it, but I know there's something in Peru with my name on it. And I can't wait to find out what it is.

Since I've Been Gone

It feels like its been forever since I've been here, on this blog. I almost forgot it existed.

I'm about to start a great adventure and I thought this would be a nice way to keep those interested informed.

Here are some pictures from the summer mostly back in Cali.