Day 19 - Cusco

Started with the main food market in Cusco. Photo shows just a few of the many kinds of potatoes. Then headed out to the country side. This was farming area. We visited a family, got to see a bit of their home, and the guinea pig farm. Next stop was the local elementary school, where we visited a bunch of 5th graders. It was actually fun even though the two kids who "adopted" me spoke no English and my Spanish is too minimal to be helpful. The boy wants to study technology, the girl really likes math.

Next stop, a weaving cooperative in Chinchero village. First lunch with the weavers, then demonstrations of the whole process from washing the wool with some kind of root, dying it (natural dyes, of course), spinning (drop spindles) and weaving (backstrap looms). They work with sheep's wool as well as alpaca and baby alpaca. Gorgeous work. Only two cushion covers are coming home with us, but it wasn't easy to keep it to that.

Then home for a nap, wander around the city and delicious dinner (trout crusted with quinoa).

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