Chicken feet and other wonders

Today was our day on the town. Woowee, and craziness ensued. We got up this morning, ate a cup of oatmeal (good ole Quaker Oats), and set out in search of a taxi that would take us to Juliaca. There is a saying here in Peru: How many people can you fit into a taxi? The answer? One more! We wound up three of nine people squeezed into a five passenger car. It was actually kinda fun. On the road to Juliaca, the driver had to steer off the road several times to avoid hitting the gigantic rocks and shards of broken glass remaining from the Paro several days earlier. The Paro was a protest on the price of gas, and people blocked off the roads the best ways they could to keep people from driving. So, anyway, we got to Juliaca ok, and paid the driver our fare of less than 50 cents apiece. He let us off in the food-market part of town, and just cause we were curious, we walked through the Mercado Central, an indoor bazaar (or bizarre) full of every kind of food that a Peruvian could want. We three gringos, however, did all we could to keep from holding our noses. We saw all kinds of animal parts laid out everywhere that I had no idea people even ate, like piles of chicken feet, pig heads with hollow eyes (creepy), and oh my, the fish. It was a good three hours later till we were ready for lunch. After emerging gasping into the sunshine at the other end of the market, we headed off to change money at the bank and go the the clothing market to buy warmer clothes. Things are so stinkin cheap around here. I got everything I needed for a very good price. Its funny how the Peruvian women talk to us when they are trying to get us to buy something. They take an almost whining tone, like...Señoreeeeeta, es muy baraaaaato...which means: Miss, its very cheap. It is a little annoying sometimes, but most of them think since we are Americans, we are rich. Compared to them, we are, money-wise anyway, and so I dont let it bother me that much. Well, after we finished shopping (Dave bought a guitar!), we ate lunch at a really nice restaurant and had steak. It was great. Then we found a taxi heading back to Lampa, and we squeezed in the back. It was cramped but we got some funny pictures out of it. Tonight we are going to chill out and play some music, Dave on the guitar, me on my harmonica, and Wade with his shaker. Tomorrow we are heading out to visit Tusini Grande, our first village visit by ourselves! Pray...hard...