day 3

First off we had to get up at 5AM this morning we took an early flight to Cusco Peru. This is a picture of hte Cusco airport its rather small and really just exists for tourists. We got into town and went to our hotel it was a cute place.



Then we headed off to an ancient incan site call Qorikancha. It was an old Incan sturcture that the Spaniards had built a cathedral on a portion of it.
The colors of Cusco are the Rainbow. Its an important symbol to them because of the relation to agriculture, you only see a rainbow if there is sun and water which are the two fundamentals for growing anything.



This is a picture of the field that you can see has stones all in it and they used to be statues of the different gods they worshiped but when the Spaniards arrived they had them all cut down and now just the stones remain.


Then it was off to "saqsaywaman" or "sexy woman" its what they tell all the tourists to help the remember the name of the place. This is an ancient incan temple and where they celebrate the Inti Raymi every year which is where they worship the sun god.





Here is just a picture with a slight view of the tops of the Andes with snow (cause im in the andes already just not the top).



Then we stopped by "puca pucara" and the main reason was to see this structure that they had built that allowed the water to flow. For several years this was thought to be the fountain of youth by some people. But then they realized that the people who drank the water actually got sick and died so they just started touching it and not drinking it.



As a way to make money here almost everywhere we stop the local women take out their lamas or alpacas (this is an alpaca) so that they can charge us to take pictures with them.



This is just a picture over looking Cusco.

Day 2

So I finally got to meet the other people in my program today. There are 35 girls and 5 guys. There are only 3 of us who arent teachers. Most are from Cali there are a few from chicago. We all live in the states but there are two people from spain, one from mexico, one from venezuela, one from coloumbia, and one from brazil. We got up early this morning and went to several different places in Lima. We got to ride in a VERY nice bus.



Our first stop was the "park of love". Its right on the beach, with a HUGE statue of people making out and a long bench with ceramic tiles in all colors with different quotes about love.

Next we stopped by the "Huaca Pucllana". Its an ancient archaeological site in the middle of Lima. The bricks are made of adobe and date back to pre-Inca times. The reason they have survived this long that is that in never rains here.



Next it was on to the "convento de San Francisco". Its a convent that has the catacombs underneath but the only way they have permitted people to enter is that there are no photos allowed so sorry.


Then it was on to "Museo Larco" to look at tons of different artifacts. Here are a few of them. The last one is what the incan king would wear during the festival of the sun Inti Raymi.

Day 1

I got here late last night about midnight. One of my mission companions met me at the airport and came to stay with me in my hotel. So that we could spend all day together today. Here are some pics of my room with a view!

We got up early this morning and went to the temple. It was great fun! And we even ran into a girl I had met thru some other friends in Rexburg!

We came back to the Hotel and changed cause we don’t have to be in skirts all day anymore and went and found a great place to eat. Then went around a lot of the street fairs that they have here looking for anything interesting and spent quiet a bit of time just walking all over. Then we took a taxi into the Centro of Lima to La Plaza de armas. Here are a few pictures. (when I got back tonight I found out we are also going there tomorrow…opps….but im sure I will have more info tomorrow since we are going on like some paid tour and stuff lol)

Right next to this plaza they have like a row of different carts where they sell food and Jhisela insisted that I try “anticuchos” or shishkabobs (no idea how to spell that) of Cow Heart!! I was able to eat one of those chunks of meat and in all honesty it tasted good but my mind won and I couldn’t bring myself to eat anymore. After that we ended up coming back and and Jhisela got her stuff ready and went home. I finally met the Teacher and got a schedule for the trip. I can tell you that I will be here all day tomorrow and then on thurs we leave for Cusco first thing in the morning.

Overall what do I think of Lima after my first day?? Well its HUMID and that is killing me! Its winter so outside its only like maybe 60* but its so humid that you just sweat all day. The city its self is a bit more dirty than where is was in Chile but its very similar. I was told its dirtier because it doesn’t rain here EVER the most it might do is mist so the streets are never cleaned by the rain and there is lots of dust/dirt on everything. The drivers are CRAZY! And everyone looks at me like im some sort of attraction which I thought before was because I was a missionary but apparently not.