Day 2 - Open Air Busses and Underground Cemetaries

Paul while on the city tour

Hello folks this is Ted! What a time to come down with a cold/flu (scratchy throat and fever so we will see how this turns out......and no I didn't catch scurvy). I have decided to call it an earlier night tonight and have decided to relax and write in the blog while I have a chance!

I didn't get as much of a chance to expand on the visit to Vista Allegre yesterday. I will leave it until later perhaps so I can get down what we did today first. I do want to say two things. First, thanks to Susan for posting a great picture of the view looking back from Vista Allegre. Second, to say that I almost feel embarrassed to give my opinions on it and have them stand as some sort of objective testimonial. Especially considering the range of experiences with that sort of poverty amongst the group members (okay I guess I am talking about it). I mean we range of experiences from Jess, whoou had lived and worked in these conditions for years, to other members of the group who were travelling not only outside of North America for the first time but perhaps making the harder journey outside of their comfort zone. If anyone of the group has a chance to added to this or do their own post with whatever reflections you had it would be great.

Unfortunately the only photos I have of us with the kids are Jess's and they are in RAW format....hope to get them downsizde to post here.

For me, it is something that I have seen and experienced before but am never "used to". Entering progressively poorer and poorer neighbourhoods I began to feel less and less comfortable. Again having some experience I was able to use rational thought to recognize that there wasn't really anything to be scared of. The group was amazing though. I did get the sense that there was some trepidation amongst people as we got off the bus. Not only because of the physical aspect (the stairs were STEEP) but the emotional one as well. I had to commend people because everyone seemed to make a conscious decision to go experience it. I think everyone was reassured by the appearance of local social worker and neighbourhood "guide" Luz, but I could be wrong. Regardless, most breathed a physical and emotional sigh of relief when we got to the top to see school age children waving flags and awaiting our arrival.

Again, I hesitate to generalize or speak for others. One of the comments that did seem universal was the hesitance of the group to take pictures out of respect for the people who live there. I think many in our group struggled with what was okay to do. Again, the group needs to be commended on their sensitivity. And it is a sensitive issue. Ironically, most of the kids seem to want to have their pictures taken and certainly Luz wanted the rest of the world to know what life was like there. She and the other school "mother" Blanca (who loans out one of the two rooms of her house as the local school) kept inviting us back, inviting us to come work there. To the extent that people's minds were completely changed about the conditions of poverty I am not sure. But conversations on the bus seemed to reflect that most of us were (oops I accidentally put werent the firt time) thinking about what we had seen and felt. I am sure that your friends/family whose trip you are reading along with will have their own stories and perspectives! Would LOVE to hear from those of you in the group who would like to post yours here.

So today! First was the National Museum. We had a guided tour of some of the pre-Cololmbian artifacts of the people whom lived there. Then, most went to the 6th floor of the museum where there was an exhibit regarding the "Shining Path" uprisings that saw tens of thousands killed. Again, a lot of questions from the group (these are an inquisitive bunch). It was a confusing time and was hard for me as an outsider to sort out who was fighting against whom and why. Others in the group expressed the same.

|City Hall in the Plaza de Armas

Gerta and Susan in the Plaza de Armas

Lunch and then the city tour! we saw pre-Incan ruins, went to the main plaza, and walked through the underground cemetery of the Franciscan cathedral. No photos allowed. and who would want to. Interesting that the excavated bones of those buried beneath had been displayed for tourism purposes. Back on the bus (but not before buying gum from the street kids) and to the Larcomar mall. We had to bid good-bye to our Habla guides Alberto, Roce and Pati and people went in different directions to enjoy dinner.

And tomorrow? Well, again a chance to mingle with some of the local street musicians...why do I think that we aren't going to just be spectators? Then Tuesday it will be off to Cusco on our way to Machu Picchu!