Exploring

I feel like I have somewhat adjusted to the altitude now. Of course there are people who have been here a month and say they still get winded going up stairs. There is 30 percent less oxygen up here compared to sea level. I have felt a little homesick at times then I look outside the window and remember where I am. I have spent the last couple days discovering some of the main sights of the city. I visited the main plaza yesterday called Plaza de Armas. The main cathedral is constructed there. It contains the largest bell in South America. I visited some of the other churches around the city as well. They all tend to have very ornate gold altars. Practically even inch of the altars have been carved by hand. Much of the art reflects the baroque style of extravagence, curves, and gold. It is all about the gold. I also visited the Museum of Religious Art today. It contains pieces from the Cusco School of Art. The art has images of the Catholic faith brought by the Spanish infused with the religious practices of the Incas. It was fascinating.

Today I took a walk to the neighborhood of San Blas. The buildings are white washed with bright blue doors. It has recently been restored. San Blas is the up and coming ¨hip¨ area of Cusco and believe me the people of Cusco know it. I was walking up this hill of cobble stoned streets on San Blas Street and every few steps I was encountered by a person selling you jewelry, paintings, scarves, among other items. Peruvian women and children stand by in their traditional gowns holding llamas waiting for you to take a photo of them. Which you pay for of course. I found out they all charge different prices. Best to agree on a price before the photo. The poverty made me sad and I started to dread when anyone approached me because some of them were very aggressive. One lady followed me for 5 blocks or so. She had a child on her back so I eventually bought one of the beautiful hand carved boxes she was selling me for a minimal price. I learned from her not to make conversation with them because once you do that they will not leave you alone.

Today is my last free day before classes. Tomorrow I start my first day of TEFL/SL training. It is a four week course that trains you to teach English as a Foreign/Second Language. I have already met one of my teachers. She is from South Africa and has been doing TEFL classes/trainings for the past four years in South Korea, Costa Rica, Peru and other countries.

There are free salsa lessons every Saturday at my school. I took the beginner class yesterday and it was a lot of fun. I did not plan on going to the class, but I was checking the internet at the school and all of a sudden someone comes in and says in Spanish, ¨Salsa classes in 5 minutes.¨So I just jumped right in! I hope to go again in the following weeks. Please think of me tomorrow on my first day!