Was up many times in the night, very congested. FInally got up at 815ish and readied for the day. Down to find most of the group at breakfast. As Colin and Wendy are early birds they were already gone so I took opportunity to get the ones who were there to sign the anniversary card I brought for them. 30 years, man that’s as big a milestone as trekking the trail! When I entered the room Nury said something about hearing tales of last night with Noah. Good grief, it was nothing even if I may have blushed. Celia gave me my word of the day ”Sin verguenza” which means without shame. Not sure what I think about that as I do not feel shame as I don’t do anything to be ashamed of. I enjoy interaction with the world….
Left at 10 with a small group to walk up to the peoples market. It was amazing, sure wish I could come up with a better descriptor… eclectic, colourful, cheery. curious, magical….. even had a witchcraft aisle. Many of us bought Peruvian chocolate and I found a beautiful table runner as well as a bag of oranges. I enjoyed wandering a bit with Nury and Celia before Nury went off on her mission to find warm clothes as she is going to Copenhagen to visit her boyfriend, that will be some climate change.
I enjoy chatting with Celia and we actually think we will see each other again as she comes up from Santa Fe to the Seattle area relatively often. We found her a pretty hair clip with little people on it. As we were working our way back to the hotel we walked into the middle of a parade with a Virgin (female, unkown name) statue being carried around on a litter.She is the patron saint of the military and they were out in force to honour her. It was odd how young so many of them looked to me.
Celia wanted to pick up shoes so we were heading to the shop where I bought my boots. Along the way I bought from an artist two beautiful paintings which he rolled up in a tube so I could bring them home. By now I was not feeling very well at all and the cooking class was this afternoon.
Colin and Wendy, Carol Ann and I followed Nury up to Uchu, a Peruvian Steak House owned by Chef Erick Paz. We had to wait a bit for another woman from Alabama to join us. Erick was our instructor, along with his trainee, Renzo and he taught us first about the different types of corn and potatoes, spices, peppers, etc that are common to the area. The whole experience was far greater than we expected. We prepped and made our own Causa, which is the picture on my desktop at work and I can’t believe I made it here! In between we were served many appetizers including Ceviche of Mahi Mahi, Alpaca Kabobs, Bruchetta, a fruit tasting session and a lesson in making Pisco Sours, We are professionals now! The main course involved red bell peppers and just the smell was turning my stomache so rather than participate I videoed the others and it turned out hilarious. There were flames and fun all around as they prepared what was basically an alpaca stir fry. The dessert involved several types of ice cream, including sweet tomato and it was really good.
Erick took our email addresses and promised to send us the recipes. He is not only a top chef with three (about to be 4) restaurants in town, but is also a reknowned race car driver and his family has a non profit organization to help those who can’t afford it go to school. Pretty impressive.
From there we went to check at the restaurant next door that we were supposed to be meeting everyone at to find the reservation had been cancelled so we wandered our own ways and I was way behind having had to go get a SD Card for the borrowed camera I have. As I was trudging my very sick self back down the hill to the hotel, on the opposite corner I hear my name and there was everyone coming towards me heading up the hill for dinner. I did not want to miss it as it was to be a group outing and also I had the card for Colin and Wendys anniversary so I turned around and trudged after. We did go to a lovely spot that served them all up very traditional food and gave them a wee Pisco Sour lesson as well. It was highly entertaining. We toasted being together and the happy couple as I had a cup of tea and then decided that was that.
I left and wandered down the hill towards the Hotel but something is really up with my hip, I suspect its out again, making me limp and my nose is running, my head is pounding and my throat is sore. WAAAAAAAA
I was nearly crying so I stopped at the Pharmacia next door and he gave me pills that he said were for inflammation. I paid and came up to the door at the top of the steps but couldn’t open it. The front desk manager found me standing there in tears and brought me in, took the pills down to the Pharmacist to ensure they were what I needed and came back to make me a cup of tea. What a sweetie.
The rest of the crew has just arrived and I need to pack for the morning and get a decent sleep I hope…..
Sorry for whining, I just can’t believe that after taking all those medications not to get Peruvian sick I got a stupid old Canadian cold. I am in good company though as Colin has it too. I sure hope he doesn’t feel this ad.
Oh well, tomorrow is a 7 hour bus ride to Puno, I will try to sleep.
MB in a fog
09.24.13
triumphgal 