Days 75-80: December 15th-20th

Cuzco, Peru

Stayed at: The Healing House

Dear Obiwan,

Obi, I have now been in Cuzco for 6 days! I also changed my flight one last time…instead of going to Lima on Tuesday for two days, I will be just going STRAIGHT to Patagonia on Thursday…well not straight, it’s about 20 hours of transit, but still, changed my plans again, I love it here!

In summary, my last 5 days in Cuzco were full of Spanish lessons, relaxing, and new friends. I also got to see Margaux one last time by surprise and we ate at this beautiful restaurant!

Finally after about 6 days I was feeling better! On Saturday I was about to explore and while on mission to find some comfy cheap and warm pants I met Juan, a really nice guy from Venezuala who worked at a big store in one of the squares in Cuzco.

Obi, I walked into the store and “Ocean Avenue,” by Yellowcard was playing! You understand this is my #1 guilty pleasure band…that I usually like to tell no one! Well, after bonding over Yellowcard, we chatted for a while and before I left he invited me out tonight to meet up with him and his friends.

Above is in the store, it has a million souvenirs and trinkets, including these GUINEA PIGS or ‘cuy’ in Spanish, which was an odd choice since there are dead full-body guinea pigs all around Peru to eat! (I did NOT try this Obi, don’t worry!)

A few hours later I was out in Cuzco, for the first time since I have been here! We started in the famous square, Plaza de Armas, and then headed outside of the tourist area! (Or as some call it, “Gringoland”…Obi gringo means…as the DICTIONARY states:
“(in Spanish-speaking countries and contexts, chiefly in the Americas) a person, especially an American, who is not Hispanic or Latino.”

Anywho, so after a 15 minute cab ride to where the LOCALS hang out, we were there. We went the bar where his friend who he traveled from Venezuala to Peru with works. She was incredibly friendly and warm.

The bar was amazing Obi. It was small and cozy. Outfront they were serving hot dogs and hamburgers and inside to keep warm each table had it’s own little fire! It was a bunch of coals in a stone square pit. We decided to get a drink unique to here, “te piteado.” It is hot tea with rum and other fresh and yummy flavors. It was served in a huge jar which was perfect because I was freezing.

There was a group of Venezualeans there and everyone was so welcoming and friendly. The music playing was salsa, bachata, and local music unique to each country. One of the bar owners was drinking with us and showed us how to dance a dance unique to this area of Peru, look at the video!

Also the women from Venezuala helped me improve my salsa and bachata skills and we all danced for hours. After this we headed to a club. I was 100% the ONLY GRINGA there. It was so much fun! However, I don’t know how people party this late. It was still RAGING at 4am when I threw my towel in and went to bed Obi! They told me the next day they were there till 7am!

I also have been TRYING SO MUCH NEW FOOD OBIWAN. I think only you and a few others understand how incredible that is and… incredibly terrifying it is. But look, this was a small shop in Cuzco serving these MASSIVE sandwiches and they were so delicious! I can’t remember what was on it…ham or beef or both?, cheese, peppers, tomatoes, onions, and tons of other mystery foods that Carly 3 years ago would never dare to try!

And then finally Obiwan, after 10 unexpected days in Cuzco full of learning Spanish, yoga, massages, healing, enlightening conversations, and amazing new friends, I left! I now am on my way to PATAGONIA and I have 3 flights and layovers…totaling in 20 hours Obiwan.

So, here I go, down to the end of the world!!!

Love you lamb,
tú Madre,
Carly

Days 72, 73, and 74: December 12th, 13th, and 14th
Cuzco, Peru
Stayed at Healing House

Dear Obiwan,
The next three days were full of learning and needed relaxation. I started my Spanish lessons! I had 4 hours on Wednesday and Thursday and 2 hours on Friday. My teachers were Silvia and Mariela. I was still feeling pretty sick and would feel even more sick when I would walk due to the altitude. However, I still was happy!

Look how beautiful this school is!:

My Spanish teachers are both so kind and helpful. Silvia is a little more conversational focused, we always start by her asking me a bunch of questions about my trip or my family or my life and then I answer and she will correct me and help me when needed. We also do some work on worksheets. Mariela is a little more worksheet focused but also converses with me as well! On Thursday during our conversations, Silvia told me that her husband works at the Healing House- and just BY CHANCE her husband is who I got my massage from! There are about 7 massuese’s there (I think) and the one who gave me one of the best massages of my life was her husband! And during my massage he had told me about falling in love and moving here…WITH HER IT’S HER! Ah what an amazing small world!!!

Also I had another healing moment at the Healing House on Wednesday. On Wednesday’s they have a pot luck, I didn’t know and was told right before and I tired to run out and buy some food but failed and I was told not to worry.

At this lunch, it was incredibly healing and bonding. After eating everyone sits in a circle and each person shares something they are grateful for. After this they ask if anyone from the community was leaving this week, I had plans to leave Saturday but I was too shy to say something, but one woman remembered and encouraged me to speak up. So I did.

I then was told to sit in the middle of the circle with the two other people who were leaving. They encouraged us to close our eyes, and then, something magical happened. Everyone begins to say things of love and positivity. It sounds like an orchestra of love, sometimes people speak at the same time, sometimes it is just one voice, but you hear, “you’re beautiful. You’re loved. Acceptance.” Etc. And after a minute it was so positively overwhelming I almost cried tears of joy. It reminds me of some Music Therapy techniques I’ve learned. I’m so grateful to be a part of it and everyone needs that in their life Obi. Loved ones or strangers telling you, with intention and meaning, that you are loved! And accepted! And beautiful! Obi I love you! Obi you are so loved!

After this I did some ‘slow yoga’ and no one else came, so I had a private yoga session! It was so hard though, I think it was too soon after being sick to do it, but it was slow so I could kinda handle it. In the end he played some hand drums and a didgeridoo! My eyes were shut when he started playing the didgeridoo so it was a complete surprise and it was startling and beautiful!

Before I went to sleep I spoke with Emma who was staying and works at Healing House about my original plans to leave this Saturday for Bolivia. I told her how I was still sick and loving Cuzco so much and also felt quite stressed to squeeze Bolivia into 7 days and then head to Punta Arenas for Patagonia! After speaking with her I gained clarity and made the decision to go to Lima next Tuesday, spend 2 days on the beach before going to Patagonia. I felt so much better after making this decision!

The next few days were full of more relaxing, Spanish lessons, and endless beautiful cafe’s and new food. Here’s a dog trying to sneak in a cafe, and failed!:

On Friday I wanted to attend one of the various classes they were offering at Healing House this week. The week I was there they were having a “Mysticism” week and I attended a class called, “12 Steps of Healing: Somatic Integration,” it was a different approach to healing involving specific 12 Steps and specific breathing techniques which each step!

My day ended with an enlightening conversation about life goals with an American woman at the hostel and some healing tea as well.

Well my dear lamb chop, until tomorrow.

Love you, tú Madre,
Carly

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