La Quinta y La Sexta Semana

I didn't intend on doing these two weeks as one post, but then after seeing Machu Picchu, I had a no fun stomach infection or virus or something so I didn't get anything done for two days and then had a lot of last minute shopping and sightseeing to do. But while I'm finally uploading all my photos, let me tell you about my last two weeks in Peru!

Week 5 was more or less normal. Wednesday we had off from school, again, this time for San Pedro. My host mom was doing some traveling, so she gave me money for lunch. The nice, sit-down restaurant I went to gives you a soup, second (choice of beef or chicken) and drink for 4 soles. That's the dollar menu in Peru :) I also did a lot of shopping that day, more for myself since I hadn't bought much for me up till then.

That Saturday and Sunday, I woke up at lovely 5 in the morning for Machu Picchu. The weekend I picked was the one weekend during the whole trip that it was rainy and cloudy outside. The train was an hour late because we had to stop and wait for crews to clear off the tracks after a landslide.

When I got to my hotel in Aguas Calientes (they also have some famous hot springs, not just proximity to Machu Picchu) I took a nice long nap and lay in bed watching Scooby Doo and a Mary Kate and Ashley movie on my 3 TV channels. Sunday morning I went up, had my tour, and then did the shortest optional hike over to an Inca bridge. Even with the rain/fog/sickness, it was really awesome.

Week 6 was very strange. Monday, I lay in bed all day. Tuesday, I went to the school for the hour and a half after recess to try to teach a little, but they were having a volleyball tournament instead of classes. Wednesday was Teacher's Day so we had the day off, and I did more shopping. I left my scarf on the Machu Picchu train coming back, so I bought a new one and some gloves to go with it. Thursday was the 100th Anniversary of the rediscovery of Machu Picchu, so we had another day off and I went downtown to take a tour of the other church in the Plaza, La Compañía de Jesus. It has a beautiful altar covered in gold, which I really should have bought a postcard of.

Friday was the only day I worked and unfortunately, I didn't get to say goodbye to a lot of the kids because they thought Friday was another holiday and didn't show up. Then Saturday, I went to a mass at the Cathedral (so I could get in for free) and took one last shopping trip to get presents for my host family.

My first flight left for Lima at 3:30 in the afternoon and after lots of hours waiting in airports, I got back home yesterday morning! I'm still sleepy but I made myself get up this morning because I was sooo hungry. First cereal for breakfast in 6 weeks! Yes, the strangest things make me happy :)

In other news, tomorrow is my 20th birthday. I keep forgetting. Usually I have a countdown in my head from the beginning of July until my birthday, but this year it was a countdown to going home. As much as I love Cusco, I love being home even more. I don't think I'll be doing much since my dad and littlest sister are out of town (they left only a couple hours before I got back). My mom and sissy and I might get to go get massages though :) So my last day of being a teenager, as weird as that is, will be spent maybe unpacking, hanging out at home, getting a free slurpee, maybe going to the library...it's good to be home!