El Ayllu... Lengua de Suegra (April 18)

Because this week is la Semana Santa, there was a special food fair in la Plaza de San Francisco, which we were dying to sample. We wandered around el Mercado de San Pedro, developing an appetite as we toured the goodies the locals were selling. We saw fruits and veggies that remain a mystery to us, various cuts of meat including the heads oftentimes, and herbs/flowers of every type imaginable. There were also gambling stations, which people crowded around. It was utter chaos as we squeezed through the horde of people; one woman advised us that " hay muchos ladrones... Cuidate tus cosas". We lost Rafael in the chaos, but we shrugged it off; as a recent graduate of the Israeli army, he could handle himself in a market. 

Turns out he was truly fine; he found 5 s/. ceviche which was served on a mountain of rice and veggies. We started at the picarones stall, for 3soles for 4 picarones. Picarones are like sweet potato donuts with a hint of anise... Aka to die for. We then found Marsky some causa con atùn, which was also delicious. EmBoss and Vanessa finished off their meal with a cremolada.

I later met up with Vanessa and her friends (Lola, Claudia) and we walked around Cusco, visiting Qorichanka, the old Incan Temple of the Sun, which had been converted into a church by the Spaniards. We wandered to the 12-sided stone, which was in the wall of a church; these stones were held together by pressure alone. Our final visit was to one of the oldest cafés in Cusco, El Ayllu, which I had been dying to go to. Needless to say, the coffee and lengua de suegra pastry did not disappoint. While practicing Spanish and enjoying my dulces, I also learned how to tell fake soles billes. We said goodbye and headed back to the hostel.

Rafael taught us how to play an Israeli card game, so we literally played cards and drank coca tea for a couple of ours until we were entirely famished and made a return trip to the mercado for food. Dinner was anticuchos (beef heart), potatoes, and fried egg with rice. All for literally 5 soles. Epic and delicious. Entertainment for the evening consisted of the religious procession, which was absolutely beautiful. The young boys of the town played music behind each "float" and we laughed when we noticed that each child had music clipped to his back so the one behind him would know what notes to play. We then headed out for some te pisceada, and were delighted to find that all the bars had wifi that kicked our hostel's wifi outta town! All in all, a hilarious night!

Ciao!

EmBoss