Huaraz and the rain

After two weeks in Huaraz we have now arrived in Cusco and the sacred valley of the Incas. Tomorrow we embark on the Inca Trail and finish in Machu Pichu, one of the 7 wonders of the world. We are so excited and have been enjoying our time in this town so far.
We thought we would take a minute and talk about the culture of Peru. The fact that we have witnessed some culture has been a little bit of a change. Argentina was a blast but the sad reality is almost all of their native people were killed and the land was settled by European decendendents so there is not a lot of original foods, clothes, housing, language, and traditions. Peru is the exact opposite. We quickly noticed how wonderful many of the women´s clothes are. The more traditional women take a lot of pride in thier dress. They wear knitted leggings, brightly colored skirts, festive bright colored shirts, and nice upright hats, almost like a taller, more compact cowboy hat. The food is really good. There are lots of fresh vegetables, rice, and meat with great sauces and flavors. There is a native language of Quechua, which is still spoken in small mountain villages. The other difference we have noticed is that there is much more poverty here. Many buildings are unfinished, water is undrinkable and contaminated, hostel kitchens don`t even have sinks or ovens, and the streets are full of sad people, animals, and smells. The quality of life here is definitely different.
In Huaraz, we had planned on taking an 8-day backpacking trip after our Santa Cruz trip, but we realized that 8 days of hiking, eating, and sleeping in the rain sounded like no fun. This caused a lot of unexpected down-time, which, combined with missing Thanksgiving, led to our first bout of homesickness. Travelling is fun when there is always something to do, but lots of free time can make you miss friends, family, and the comforts of home. We did make the most of the free time with Spanish lessons, a two-day stay at an eco-lodge, time with new friends, and three day-hikes.
We need to sign off and pack for the big Inca Trail adventure. We are so excited and will post photos and stories in about 5 days when we return.