more in Cusco

The last few days have been very busy and interesting. I have had no appetite because of the altitude so have not been eating anything and still not hungry. But today nearly fainted so have decided to eat even if i don´t feel hungry because i think the altitude is tricking me.

Today we went to a local market called San Pedro and did an Amazing Race style competition and broke into small groups of four. We had to use just 10 soles to buy naharanjas, uvas, Platanos, manazanas. But we didn´t know what these things were so i actually asked someone in Spànish Tiene usted Uvas? Do you have any grapes...and she pointed at the grapes and we were all like oh ok grapes...then we bargained and bought some. We also figured out the other ones. We also had to count how many places sold meat and counted 61 and it was THE most meaty, smelly, bloody, vomitatious, yuk yuk yuk but very interesting place. For example there are piles of cows noses with the hair and everything on it. And a man was sawing a whole pig with a saw as we walked past, and every kind inner organ and meat product you can imagine. Makes the fish market seem like a lolly shop.
Then we had lunch at this cafe that is associated with a local orphanage and did some team building games. I am feeling quite overwhelmed with the level of social interaction. I´m getting on well with everyone but i often need to go off on my own and have a read or yesterday afternoon and i took myself up to the rooftop courtyard of the hostel and stood there for an hour and did sketching...it was soooooooo good. You would not beleive the view from this roof top, and the Cusco in general is so unique the mor i walk around the more i am amazed. The streets are all very steep and cobbled and i get very very puffed just walking up them, and the taxis squeeze thru these narrow streets and just beep at everyone and there are people everywhere selling things and begging for money. The city is in a valley so anywhere you are you look up and the the edges of the city spattering out and up dotting halfway up the mountains until all you see is just these huge mountains. The other thing we had to do at the market was find the dried baby llamas which are used by locals as a ritual for when something important happens. We also had to find the lady who sells frog juice...it was really nice...just kidding, i didn´t try it.
I have free time a thte moment...wonderful free time where i can do what i want! i have to go to the school in about two hours as we are having our first Spanish lesson at the San Blas school.
We are not leaving for Huaran until next thursday. Well, i guess that,s it for now, i think i should make use of my free time and go find a laundromat.