Friday July 13

How sad, our last full day in Peru. The people are so friendly and are willing to discuss their national politics at the drop of a dime! They don't seem overly interested in what is going on in the US, they have enough problems of their own. Next week is their independence day, supposedly a big deal, but there is a teachers and doctors' strike and the builders are threatening to strike, so it may be a bit subdued. The current president promised everything to everyone, and now can't deliver. Their economy is pretty solid, but you can't keep giving away the farm. Here in Cuzco, 75 percent of the people make their living off tourism. There are no beggars, but lots of people trying to sell you stuff. The food here is so good and varied. People walk a lot. Not too many fat people, but no one looks hungry, even the ubiquitous dogs. Today we went to Sacsaywaman, the ruins of the main Inca temple. Again it is amazing how they were able to build these structures without any of the things we take for granted. Then to the central market, which was wonderful. Anything you want was there, fruits, veggies, coffee, chocolate, cheese, bread, clothes, ladies with singer sewing machines who will repair your clothes, flowers, dog food (a new thing here) and llama fetuses for the shamans to perform their rituals. The latest thing is live frogs blended with milk and honey to make your children smarter. All the churches were built on the old Inca foundations, and there are many. The main cathedral is very similar to the one in Sevilla, lots of gold leaf, statues, carved cedar and a mural of the last supper where the fish is replaced by guinea pig. I could spend another couple of weeks in this country, but Ecuador calls.