Part 2 of .... Taxi ride down the mountain

Part 2 of … Taxi ride down the mountain

Hi everybody, some more of our experiences.

Following our trip to the College with Iris – social worker, and Ernistina it was arranged that we would also buy some clothes for her on Sunday. At the right markets clothes are extremely cheap here in Cusco. We were to meet Iris and Ernstina at 9 am at the Pumamarca taxi drop off point. We are never sure that these sort of arrangements will take place because of the language problem – however all took place, Ernistina was there with her two chn this time. The little girl, Maria, was strapped to her back in the colorful wrap – every mother carries her baby this way. The boy, Franscico, about 4 holding mum’s hand. Taxi hailed we all pile in – the taxi’s here are tiny little Daewoo Tico’s, about Daihatsu charade size, ok, one in the front – not me – don’t know where we are going. Andrea, Ernistina with two chn and myself in back. Seat belts you ask – you are joking of course!. Iris directs the driver into Cuzco central and eventually we reach an extremely busy market area. So the shopping begins, pair of shoes, jeans, track pants, two jumpers, a warm jacket, 10 prs undies, 3  prs bras for Ernistina, 3 warm long pants and a bag of 60 nappies for Maria – first ever too!. Then some coat hangers, a little back pack for Franscico – he was as proud as punch! Can’t remember what else – total about 85 Aust dollars for the lot. We think this may have been the first time Ernistina has been able to shop for clothes. In the shop where we bought the jeans we were served by a girl of about 10yrs. To try them on, another girl of 8 or 9 bobbed up and together they held up a curtain around Ernistina . I paid the 10 yr old for the jeans and thought – a true entrepreneur here!

We headed for home – all this time not a murmur from the chn, the adults were exhausted!!

On Tuesday afternoon we accompanied Iris into Cuzco to get all the items Ernistina requires to do her hairdressing course – this time Peru’s Challenge paid for brushes, curlers and a heap of other things. Both trips we were immersed in Spanish – amazing what you can pick with limited knowledge.

This week has been one of up to Pumamarca for teaching, workshop for the mothers and home visits. In fact we both went up and down the mountain about 10 times – a bone jarring ride each time. I decided to construct a “casa de gallina”, a chicken coup, for Ernistina to get the chickens out of the kitchen – the guinea pigs will have it all to themselves when the coup is finished!!!!

Sunday 4.30pm

The weather has remained very fine and clear for us since we arrived. Rained on just one occasion. Yesterday it was cold but fine again today with temp of about 18.

We shop for food at the local supermacardo called The Inka Market, its about half the size of Woolworths at Stirling, but we also have the Mega Supermarcardo about 10 mins away in a Batman!

On Friday night several of the “oldies” went into Cuzco for coffee at Jack’s – the place for anything – breakfast, lunch, dinner or just coffee. We also go to Los Perros, the Witches Garden, but haven’t ventured to some of the other places. The young ones here hang out a The Devil’s Angels. Tomorrow and Tuesday it will be quiet here as all the new volunteers plus a couple more go on a two day trip to Sacred Valley.

We watched colourful and interesting folk dancing today in Plaza de Armas. All the municipalities had dancers performing in the plaza. Each group sponsored by a local shopping center or market area. With Andean pipers, drummers, firecrackers- jumping jacks -  and the bright costumes it had us entertained for about an hour.

Ok, that’s all from us for a few days. Hope this finds you well wherever you are in Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, Japan , Canada, Switzerland, Netherlands and Hong Kong – yes we blog around the world.

Love from Andrea and Trevor