Cuzco

Well, after some sad goodbyes to all my wonderfully newfound family, I head off to Cuzco, the seat of the Inca empire. Needless to say it will be a huge adventure, the first time Ive been on my own this trip. I have a while to enjoy Peru then I´m out to Rio. My family warns me repeatedly that Peruvians are liars, and will drug me so don´t take any food or drink from any ´friends´ I might meet. I sort of go along with it, thinking across the border they probably say the same shit about Bolivians. But they have a point, a bunch of Peruvians do come to Bolivia to commit crimes. Why, I´m not sure, as its cheaper in Bolivia, but who knows. Anyway I bet most of the hate is just racism...or anti-Peruvianism since theyre all Andinos. But nonetheless I take it carefully.

A long bus ride, 12-13hours, then dumped into the middle of downtown Cuzco. I had no soles or money of any kind for that matter, no hostel, and no friends, and it was after dark. Not so bueno. Anyway, I latched onto a veritable horde of Argentinians and followed some Peruvian lady to her hostel. There were no rooms, even though she was trying to get us there.
After some standing around, the Argentinians split three different ways, I kind of drift with three of the girls. They decide to share a matrimonial bed. I stash my bags there and look for another room somewhere else. Its pouring rain. I go to an ATM. Card not recognized. Shit. Will I not be able to get money out in Peru? This could be a huge problem. Where will I sleep?
Another ATM. This time it works. Sweet. I find a room. Also sweet. I grab some saltado de pollo, a wonderful mixture of french fries, tomatoes, onions, pollo, and all manner of juicy spices mixed up together with a kind of sauce. Too delicious. Peru is looking sweeter now...

Now its bedtime in Cuzco...