Kids Center, Ice Cream and Religious Icons in Cusco

Knowing that hiking Rainbow Mountain would require some post-recovery, I let the kids make every decision the following day. Mark had found a "The Chiquity Center" that promised arts and crafts, fossil digging, trampolines, and a vast collection of skewered bugs to enjoy, so promptly at 9am we meandered down to the plaza to find it. The usual crowd of tourists, hikers and vendors filled the streets, but there were also several marching bands and a mess of men getting ready to carry large, well adorned religious icons perched on planks of wood through the streets. Color and noise were everywhere, a promising start for the day. 

This distracted the kids only in the slightest, so onward we went to have some real kid fun where about 4.50 USD equalled unlimited play. They did just that while I flopped onto a bench trying to re-forget a long forgotten scent of old diaper the hung in the air. Other than that, the place teemed with energy and mischief- especially when a birthday party arrived to take over. Only these 8 year olds were no match for Margo and Deets who kept trying to interact with them. One kid would jump on the trampoline, one of mine would follow. One would start a dance party, but would give up when one of mine would join. Obviously this became a game of cat and mouse and was only interrupted when Margo asked if we could get some ice cream. Stifling a yawn for the millionth time and ignoring my creaky knees, I got up after watching them play for over 3 hours. The lunch decision had been made. 

Interestingly, the place we ended up going to didn't have ice cream per se, but milkshakes, which according to Deets doesn't count. But all was well in the world with full bellies and a large collection of children's books that needed to be read. We sat at the cafe, reading odd-end donated books before retreating back to the house for a nap. Margo and Deets passed out, but sleep eluded me when I heard the rumblings of marching bands and men carrying giant icons came up the street. At 3pm in the afternoon, the streets were crowded and full of well wishing beer drinkers who followed the parade up the mountain to the Church of San Cristobal. In their wake were hundreds of discarded soup bowls, beer bottles, plasticware, and happy stray dogs taking full advantage. I felt so disappointed to see the trash, but the sanitation workers (consisting mostly of women) made quick order of it all. 

Per their request, I took the kids to pick out yogurts and cereal to eat while we waited for Mark and Josh to come home. Imagine my surprise when these dudes came home absolutely ravenous to eat Italian food instead of passing out like I did. We headed back down to La Bodega for some well reviewed pizza, pasta and beer. Only one more day left in Cusco...

Digging into the icy, rock hard dirt.

Margo's drum circle.

Examining his fossil finds.

Taking over the dance floor.

Practicing with a icon-less table...

...to eventually carrying the real thing.

Beach Jesus with potato offerings.

And Circus Boy.

Taking a break.