When I bought my one-way ticket to Limerick, the train cashier in Dublin was baffled that I would go live in "Stab City." It's not the most exciting city in Ireland but I liked it quite much and it still has a bad rep. Warring famili…
Went to the 35th anniversary show of the ballet folklorico in Arequipa, a nice showcase of traditional dance that depicted history and relationships with Mexico and various regions across Peru. Two days going to concerts/performances in Arequipa a…
I swear, 1970's Clint Eastwood came sauntering out of here in a serape. In Maca, Peru.…
Beautiful last day in Cusco. Perfect sky and seventy. The anniversary of Cusco is this month so there's tons of festivals. Today students made floats depicting areas and customs. I like the tomato eating corn. Took an overnight bus 11 hours…
Interesting 5-minute exchange with the woman in the tienda down the road. I wanted peanuts. DId not see any. I tried to explain what I wanted: you know, a fruit from a tree but it's not a fruit like an orange. No, not a pineapple. Or a pea. You c…
Could not leave for the train back from Machu Picchu without seeing who won the Germay/Ghana game. So I bought an ice cream and watched it with Marvilla here, who was tending her mom's store and eating some friend chicken and rice. She wanted…
Took an overnight bus 11 hours to Arequipa after watching the nailbiter US vs. Portugal game (crazy final thirty seconds!) ... I actually slept most the trip. Look who I found smoking a cigar! At one point it felt like we were careening down for…
Elevation kicked my butt for three days and that trek to the Inca site via the pass at 14,800 feet was the hardest thing I've done. Got up at 4 am to make sunrise at Machu Picchu on solstice. So sore I could hardly get up and down stairs. We…
The world wonder of the Incan (Quechuan) civilization of Machu Picchu is perched atop a cliff 7,700 feet high. The bus that takes you there is driven by dudes who do this switchback journey, every day, all day. They make a run for it and the back…
