Day 70: Monday, December 10th
Cuzco, Peru
Stayed at Healing House- Night 1

Dear Obiwan,
My dearest Jedi cat, I hope you are happy sleeping all day, playing fetch with q-tips, and snuggling with your grandparents! The next 10 days your Mama cat got some needed rest and also took Spanish lessons!

I had originally planned to head to Bolivia for 10 days but after Machu Picchu, I got sick. I had a cold and also had a tough time acclimating to the high altitude.

Today Natasha and I had an amazing breakfast at Jack’s cafe. We then found my new hostel, The Healing House, and Natasha helped me carry my stuff up the many hills we had to climb. The hostel was a few minutes from Jack’s Cafe but you have to walk up the steepest hill yet, and Natasha offered to carry my huge bag up the hill! I am so grateful Obiwan you have no idea. I was feeling sick and did not know I was actually about to be sick for a week.

Here is Natasha and her new sling from her Machu Picchu injury!:

The Healing House is a magical, healing place, young Jedi. It sits atop this hill and has a beautiful yard looking over the city. There are rooms for yoga and massage and other various healing and/or community needs. Everyone you pass smiles at you as if you were an old friend and the energy is so positive and welcoming.

After this we walked to Natasha’s hostel and said our goodbyes!

As I was walking back to my new hostel my body finally revealed it’s true pain. I started to fall a part. I was coughing, sneezing, and my head felt as if it were shrinking. I stopped at a farmacia and they gave me some random meds to help my poor Spanish description of my pain, “mi cabeza ow!” And I acted out coughing and sneezing.

Finally, I hiked up the wall to the hostel and took my first shower in 5 days, it was beyond incredible.

Then the day ended with me seeing Margaux again! She was in town for one night and even though I felt awful I had to see her since she was in Cuzco! I successfully got lost immediately and followed horrible Google maps (it’s amazing in the United States but had been awful in South America!?) and ended up walking around for 25 minutes to end up finding the restaurant was 2 minutes from my hostel.

We caught up and I told her friends at this French restaurant about the Jungle trek. After an hour I was dying and had to go. We said goodbye, again, knowing we would meet again one day!

And finally, I slept!

Day 71: Tuesday, December 11th
Cuzco, Peru
Stayed at Healing House- night 2

The next day I was feeling somewhat better. I had breakfast at Jack’s Cafe (my new favorite restaurant) and told the amazingly nice staff that I wanted to learn Spanish. They told me about a school around the corner that was a great school! After finishing my delicious cinnamon French toast (well couldn’t finish it, my appetite is all messed up right now) I went to the Spanish school.

The Spanish school is called ‘Wiracocha’ Spanish school. The woman was so nice at reception and I set up 10 hours of Spanish lessons for the next 3 days, it’s less than $10 an hour! She said I will have 2 teachers, one for 2 hours and the other for the second 2 hours! I’m so excited Obi! I hope I get so much better!

After this it was after 1pm which means it’s siesta time so half the city shuts down. I finally found a cafe that was open and it was beautiful and cozy.

As I was sitting and writing, two young men came in from the US. I asked where they we’re from and one guy said, “Philly,”

I responded, “Me too! Where?!”

Him, “well… actually the suburbs of Philly,”

Me, “I grew up in the suburbs, WHERE?!”

Him, “Glenside,”

Me, “ME TOO,” and then I told him my neighborhood and he KNEW IT. He GREW UP IN my home town of SPRINGFIELD. But didn’t go there, instead went to a private school.

BUT GET READY FOR THIS.

Him, “well, I know this is crazy but, my mom’s a teacher there, do you know Mrs. Zayner?”

WHAT. OBI. You weren’t born yet but Mrs. Zayner was one of my favorite teachers! Not only was she a great teacher but Josh (my brother who you hate with all your heart) got me into the debate/ mock government club YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT in 8th grade which I loved and was a part of for 5 years of high school! I saw his mom one a night EVERY WEEK for 5 years! WHAT A SMALL WORLD!!!

Here is a picture!:

After this I had some pretty bad pizza then went to bed early since I was still not feeling too well.

Here is the cute but not to yummy inside of the restaurant:

Hopefully tomorrow I’ll be feeling better, goodnight my Jedi!

Love, tú Madre,

Carly