We took a taxi from Esperanza to Sunchubamba on Sunday. We dropped my stuff off at Martin's house, and went to Paucartambo to watch the dancing. I was with Martin and his wife. Everyone squeezed into this little square to watch the dancing, so I was pressed up against a bunch of people and had the luxury of standing the whole time. The sun was beating down, because we are at a higher elevation, but it sprinkled part of the time also. The younger people of the town like to throw water balloons and buckets of water at people, especially tourists and open windows of cars. They also throw colored powder and foam at people. During the dancing, I was hit a couple times. But it was bad for the people next to me, because I had on my rain jacket. So no problems for me. I was definitely pounded multiple times walking through the street, but it was all part of the adventure. I got sunburned, and almost keeled over because of not eating, but I ate meatballs after that and felt better. The dancing was very pretty. The younger dancers were always looking to the older ones when to turn or move a different way. The costumes were very nice, and the embroidery was fantastic. One group called their dance by an orchid name. The guys were dressed up to look like birds, and each dance had a pair to represent in the middle. They would give water or pisco and coca leaves to the dancers. Every year, dancers from another area come to dance. The men danced with shovels and were very good. They were from Tinta. The winners received cows, lambs, and chicks. We watched part of soccer game between Paucartambo and Chillabamba, who ended up tying. I got to watch Martin and his wife shop for fruits and veggies, to experience the real life of these people. After the festival, people were hanging around waiting for buses and trucks to go home. People really packed into to buses. Our taxi driver abandoned us, so I got lucky and got a front seat in the bus and wasnt squished. Martin and I set up my tent behind his house while his boys ate the cookies I bought them. I ate dinner with Martin and his wife, who made rice and beef with tomato sauce and onions. It was good, and I got to eat with my hands because there wasn't a knife. But it was delicious. We watched some black and white tv and then i crawled into my sleeping bag. Martin checked on me to make sure that it wasnt a problem with the smell from the sheep(i couldn't smell anything) and the dogs' barking wouldn't bother me(once again, no problem). I woke to the sounds of the river and cows mooing along with the roosters. Martin and his wife made me breakfast and gave me the biggest piece of chicken, which was nice. I chatted with Martin's father-in-law who commented on all the disasters in the U.S. and then asked me if God was punishing us. I said I hope not. It is interesting to learn the political views of people like that. Martin's wife thinks that one of the women running for president in Peru is going to win. Chile has a woman president. We paid for a taxi to Paurcartambo (no buses were passing). I got to ride a crowded bus that smelled of urine, but at least no one was crowding in on my window seat. Safe arrival in Cusco.
