I love that its taking the peruvians to tell me I AM an artist, not just sort of. there are 2 verb tenses: estoy is something you are temporary. soy is something you are permanent. I would say "estoy artiste" and they would correct me "soy artiste".

-brilliant-

a couple days ago I was painting in the main square and I met the coolest person, Diana (another Diana!). she lives in cusco, is teaching english and was looking for someone to talk english with. since Im also looking for someone to talk spanish with, this is perfect! and shes so patient and encouraging when I bumble through sentences.

last night I also met her best friend Fatima so now we are a three-some. I think tonight they are taking me to a place that sells great empinadas (Im addicted!). last night we ate local sandwiches with lettuce and unpeeled tomatoes - a tourist no-no, and yesterday I ate street-food soup. today Im a-OK so my experiment is still working....or Im just lucky.

yesterday I saw a quechua woman sitting on the sidewalk with a bathroom scale. clearly you gave her money to learn your weight. this is the most brilliant case of entrepanuership I've seen so far since most cusquenians dont own a scale.

I leave on my inca trail trek in 2 days. instead of the typical route, Im going through the jungle (its still on inca trail tho). the first day we mountain bike, then 2 days treking and one day at macchu picchu. after that I head back through the sacred valley to see more rocks and ruins. I cant wait!!

the one wild card is my cold of last week is still hanging around. I talked to a kiwi today who described his symptoms (uncontrolable coughing, hacking up guacamole, etc etc). HE has a lung infection. I think that's what I have too. bummer. but I think jungle air and inca trail are just the cure for me! (I also found you can by codeine cough syrup from the drugstores, no questions asked....)

gotta run, meeting diana and fatima again. fatima is also an artist and will take me to her school next week. we're also hitting some clubs for salsa and trance so I have 5 days to get over this cold...!