garyandpearl

After a good night’s sleep and a very cold shower, we were treated to a breakfast of eggs, flat buns, cold cuts, and yogurt made by Maria, the hostess of Casita de San Blas ( the name of our house). We have been encouraged to drink coca tea to help with altitude sickness. Coca tea consists of leaves that look similar to bay leaves which are tucked in a tea cup and covered with boiling water. The coca leaf contains 17 alkaloids, one of which is cocaine. It has a stimulant and diuretic effect which we were pre warned about.

We headed down the 145 steps to our street and began the trek to the town center where we stopped at many merchants along the way who were hawking their wares. We enjoyed people watching as well. Chocolate and caramel stuffed churros were enjoyed for our morning snack. People encouraged us to have their picture taken with us, and then asked for money.

We met Bill and Tania back at the house where they had arrived in Cuzco from their Peruvian Amazon rainforest excursion and returned to the Plaza de Armas for a light lunch of tamales from a street vendor. This is one of the buildings near the plaza.

A few of us had massages this afternoon ($10 Canadian for an hour), and the rest of us wandered over to the San Pedro market where you can find everything from buttons to cow snouts.

Once the 12 of us found each other amidst the crowds of people, honking cars, and many buses, we set out in search of supper. The girls convinced the guys to try a restaurant called Organika, and what a treat it was!! Here are some of the dishes.

Sweet potato ravioli

Quinoa salad

Poached apple in red wine

And their version of molten lava cake with strawberry sorbet

Although it is easier to move and breathe today, it was still a challenge to hike up to the house with such full bellies. 🙂

Until tomorrow,

Pearl for us all.