Protesta!

So, the Cusqueñas aren't the most organized group of people in the whole world. They were supposed to have their big protest riot thing last week but they kept postponing it so that they could have more time to read about rules and get themselves organized. Unfortunately they organized on the day of my return trip home. Now. I realize that most people would probably kill to be able to say to their boss, 'There was a big protest and I can't get out of the country for three more days!' And be elated about spending three more days in Cusco. They also haven't lived here for over four months. They might not even care about spending another $300 on ticket changes and hostals and food.

By early afternoon, the internet said I still had a flight waiting for me. Because the protest was happening there weren't any taxis, which meant I had to strap on my giant backpack and tote my carry-on about 2 miles to the airport in the blistering sun and walk through crowds who were just standing around gaping and playing futbol instead of working. It is curious that for a people who don't earn much money that there are so many strikes and protests. I got as far as the far outside wall of the airport when I saw the police, who were threatening to hit 12 year-olds on bicycles who thought it was funny to ride their bikes close by. What no one realized was that the protest crowd was just around the corner and the police were trying to get everyone to go home. I had been sitting in the shade, hoping that because I got their really early, maybe if I just sat around and waited my flight would still be on. What I didn't know was my flight had already been cancelled and the airport was closed. Suddenly I heard a crowd of people shouting so I started walking back to the hostal in the opposite direction, one block later I heard pops which I soon discovered were bombs of tear gas. Now we were all walking in the same direction with scarves over our mouths. 20 sweaty minutes and 2 wobbly legs later, I was back at my hostal.

It took four hours before my airline here in Cusco was able to reschedule my flight, yes, not until the 24th, and not the US until the 25th. Fie, cruel world!! I have already said goodbye to EVERYONE which was traumatic enough the first time around so I don't want to do that again. So it is just me and my personal TV with cable and Girls of the Playboy Mansion, which besides being in English and makes me want to dye my hair platinum blonde, kinda of makes me want to barf. I treated myself to my favorite restaurant for dinner, which fortunately is only $1.50 US, a bottle of my favorite yogurt (I might have to turn to something stronger after my 3rd episode of the Girls), and I signed up for a day of rafting this weekend so I can get out and enjoy the countryside for less than $30 US. This country is good for some things.