No energy for a header...

(my view!)

Ok, so I promised a longer post this time but it still may not happen. I tried to get up and be productive today but after an endless and fruitless search for a real grocery store (couldn´t find any listed on my map) I succumbed to a hideous altitude headache that had me in tears. At this point I was a long walk from the house and at the bottom of a very long hill.

Now, at this point one might ask ¨why a real grocery store lisa?¨or even ¨why not take a cab to the top of the hill and lay down?¨ Well, because I only had a $100 sol note, which is only about $35 USD but IMPOSSIBLE to break unless buying a lot of goods. Hence, the grocery store. There are markets everywhere, and individual stores for say, cleaning supplies, dry gods, produce etc. Even plumbing supplies are sold seperately. Hence, I could not break the bill anywhere and couldn´t take a cab. yesterday I tried to pay a cab ($5 sol cab far) with a $20 sol note and was refused. Get the idea? Now, why don´t the ATMs dispense smaller notes? I HAVE NO IDEA and it continually drives me insane. So, I ended up walking through tears to Blueberry Lounge and gulpling down water, coke and Coca Tea, a panadol and a sandwich in an attempt to feel better. It worked. But then when I went to pay my $20 sol and change bill with a $50 sol note (the smallest I had at this point after going to an atm in hopes of getting a smaller bill) they too had no change and had to go get some. I´m telling you it makes no sense.

Ok, so now I got that off my chest. At least I have about 30 sols in smallish bills to last me until I have to deal with this yet again. Tomorrow I will get up and be productive and go to the market, get flowers and pretty up the house. And I guess I have to since the hot water only lasts until 8am! (the woes of living at the top of a hill, more complicated than I care to elaborate on at this point- not to mention the inevitable walk back to the top!)

Otherwise, all is well, and I´m glad I´m a heavy sleeper as the walls are thin and the downstairs neighbors appear to have a crying baby and watch loud TV. Just means I get to be loud too.

Anyway I don´t want to seem like its all bad...the house is amazing, the view kicks ass, and the light I get in the morning is incredible. Waking up in Cusco today, looking out the windows blew my mind and makes up for all the other small inconveniences. I am so lucky to be here and even though the walk ended badly (well in pain) it was gorgeous nonetheless and its nice to know I don´t have to rush around doing everything as I have all the time in the world to be here (well, at least for now...)