Day 21: Halloween in Cuzco

What a great day!

Dana was feeling much better today and was finally able to eat something and keep it down. This morning we went on a 30 minute search for an internet cafe since our usual spot was closed and were able to talk to our families for a least a good hour. It was great to finally talk to and see my family. I know they were happy too.

After a long skype date we returned to the hostel for some tea before heading back out to market. The hostel is buzzing with people excited for Halloween. Apparently its a really big holiday here. Later today after a great lunch, we were on the search for day packs for our trip, sunglasses, and Dana wanted a hat...with llamas on it of course! We bargained all over the place and finally found some really good backpacks for pretty cheap. We also bargained for our sunglasses because people were asking just way too much for them, and this is how bargaining goes in Cuzco, South America: sunglasses were S/20 (about $7) a pair so we asked if we could get both of them for S/30. He said S/38 and eventually came down to S/35. When we pulled our money out of our pocket we had about 32 and some change and after a few pretty pleases and sad faces and of course a couple of laughs (the people behind the cash register thought it was hilarious) we got them both for S/32.30. Its a win win for everybody really because those stupid, cheap sunglasses should only cost about $2. After our shopping excapades, around 5 o´clock this afternoon, all the kids had come out in their Halloween costumes. Instead of saying ¨trick or treat¨they just say ¨halloween!¨ Its so cute. We bought a bag of candy and handed it out to the little kids all over the square. They were all so happy and laughing and we couldn´t stop smiling. We also watched a cultural fair type show. There was a big stage set up in front of the old cathedral in the main square, and while people were playing their traditional instruments and singing there were dancers in traditional dress doing several different routines. Most all of the couples danced with little handkerchiefs, men and women. Finally, we went back to the restuarant we were at last night, Jack´s, and now that Dana was able to eat we had amazing nachos, a warm fudgie brownie with chocolate shavings and icing, and a vanilla milkshake to officially celebrate her birthday.

Even though we´re really not going to be able to celebrate Halloween in constumes and socialized drinking, we enjoyed this Halloween immensely, handing out candy to adorable Peruvian children, enjoying the folk dances and songs of Peru, and having some good old fashioned chocolate and icecream.

We leave tomorrow morning at 6AM for our 5 day trek to Machu Picchu so there will not be a post for several days. There will be many, many pictures and much more stories to tell when we get back. Thanks for following along!