Rachel

Hola everybody, this is Rachel Day blogging from Peru! Today we visited the Inca Ruins of the capital city of Cusco. It was at a very high altitude and we had to hike up because our buses were on strike that day, so most of the day included walking. Even though it was hard, it was kind of nice for me to be out of the buses!

The city ruins were very interesting and I learned a lot of facts, but I am not going to turn this blog into a history lesson! After the tour of the city and many new things learned, the group headed toward the rock slides. These are actual rocks shaped like a series of slides that you can sit on and go down. The first time, before you knew how to brace yourself, it was a little painful. Once you learned what was coming up you could prepare your position and then it was fun. While we were sliding we met some local kids and watched a magic show. It was very neat and unexpected.

Next we headed to a Planetarium for a picnic lunch and to learn about how the Incas used astronomy to tell time and many different things. By then the bus strike was over so we drove back to our hotel for a little free time.

After a little bit of rest, our team went to a theater to see a show that was extremely funny, but also involved acrobats and gymnastics. Later on we went to the Inka Wall restaurant where we had a delicious dinner and for some that included guinea pig and octopus tentacles–although not for me! We went back to our hotel then to get a good night’s rest.

I have really been enjoying this trip so far. My favorite thing is the culture and the people. It is truly fascinating to learn about the Incas and their ancestors. Things like the dances and weaving are so different here. Everybody is so proud of who they are and what they do. It is amazing to be a part of it.