After starting our DTS outreach in Tecate, we flew to Peru for 3 weeks. The first 2 weeks we were in Cuzco, Peru, and 1 week at an orphanage in the middle of the Andes mountains. We arrived in Cuzco on New Year's Eve,but I didnt get to enjoy any of the festivities because I was extremely sick from the food and the altitude. After that, I was pretty much sick and in bed for most of my time in Cuzco, it was really sad. Since Cuzco is so high up in the Andes mountains (over 10,000 feet above sea level!), it is very common to get sick there and to experience weakness and vomiting like I did because the air is very thin and its hard to breath. Anyway, here are a few photos of Cuzco during those rare moments when I left the house...
plaza San Blas in Cuzco, where our homestay was
plaza San Blas in Cuzco, where our homestay was
shops in downtown Cuzco
Cathedral in the main plaza in downtown CuzcoIn addition to the altitude difference, the culture is really different in Peru as well. There is a strong Incan influence, the native group in Peru. Some people there speak Quechua, the native language in Peru. Their spanish accent is very different than in Mexico, and it took me a little bit to be able to catch on and understand everything. Cuzco is very very touristy because many people stop there on their way to Machu Pichu, so we met other Americans there. There is even a McDonald's in the main plaza. But I stayed away from it and tried to experience more of the Peruvian culture. The food is really different there, not the tacos we were used to Mexico. They actually dont eat tortillas at all in Peru. But they do eat alpaca (its like a llama) and Guinea pig. Guinea pig does NOT taste like chicken, it was actually kind of gross, I didnt like it, and I got sick the next morning. But I decided I would try the guinea pig anyway on the last night we were in Peru because, well I mean I had to, when else would I have the chance?
