A Lutheran will lead them.

March 4th, Sunday, started later than most.  The group agrees to go to mass if they were feeling up to it.  We selected a church just of the Plaza de Armas.  The La Merced Catholic Church was our destination.  As usual I couldn’t sleep in so I got up had a little breakfast and scopes out the Avenida of Sol which leads to the Plaza.  It was a beautiful morning, the plaza was filled with church goers and aggressive street vendors.  Apparently, I looked like a guy in need of sunglasses and a massage.  Once recon. was complete I return to put on my Sunday best.  This consisted of a long sleeves running shirt and convertible pants.  Katie look beautiful in her sun dress.  

We head out from the hotel, somehow I ended up in front.  One of Katie’s classmates Nina kept asking me if I knew where I was going.  I assured her I did.  I lead my troop of Catholics to the Plaza and quickly deduced which of the 3 church was having mad at 10.  It was the one with all the people going if you are wondering.  The Catholics were lead to mass. I found my favorite seat in any church last row on the right next to the aisle.

The monastery on the way to the Plaza for my scouting trip.  The top stones are from the Spanish the bottoms stones at from 1450s and the original stones which create the Temple of the Sun in Cuzco.

Catholic Church in Peru is awesome.  I didn’t understand a word.  I could figure out when the Lords Prayer happened and when the sacraments were prepared.  People com and go as they please.  Little kids push matchbox cars in the back pews.  Little kids just get up and wander away from their parents.  A few people showed up halfway through the sermon.  The listened, went up and got communion and left.  When it is time for communion, everybody just gets up and goes forward.  Didn’t seem to take any longer than usual.

The inside of La Merced after mass.  These 3 nuns sit almost as far back as I do.

St Hubert’s Hornets after Mass in Peru 🇵🇪 

Katie and I after mass

From here we had a little free time until 1:30 -2 when we had to meet Nil.

First stop, the new American embassy, STARBUCKS.

The fugue state produces when you have your first frappachino in almost a week.

The girls wanted to explore some markets on the way back from the square.   We went into various markets.  Some of the girls got soccer jerseys, shirts or trinkets.  Following the girls was like trying to herd cats.  If you remember from the movie, Up how the dogs would all run in different directions and yell “Squirrel”.  That is exactly what this was like.  Eventually, I pulled a Tom Lee Jones from the Fugitive and expressed my displeasure.  I instructed the girls that we need a hard target search for their items and the we need to construct a perimeter and create a 4x4 search grid.”

Their response was underwhelming.  Thank the Gods we ran out of time.  We all reported at 2 for a walking tour of Cuzco with Nil.  We explored back alleys and narrow streets of the city.  It was a beautiful day for a walk.

A random fountain 

Narrow stairs in B&W

Our fearless leader 

Eric finding salvation in front of  a small church in Cuzco

It is actually pretty cool

Nellie, Amara, Olivia, Megan. Katie, Ella and Elise 

#proofoflife

All of St Hubert’s 

We finished our walk at the Plaza de Armas.  From there the group split up.  7 of us went to see the Temple of the Sun.  It was a very interesting tour about the Incans most important temple and how the conquistadors build a serval church on it over the years.  The churches kept collapsing to varying degrees during the earthquake but the Inca walls stayed strong 

The temple was designed to have sunlight from the summer and winter solstice shine on the shrine on those particular days.  The walls of the original Temple of the Sun were capped in gold.  The attention to detail in the construction was amazing.  At the time of its construction there were 40,000 Incans, the royal family and 11 million Incan warriors so they had plenty of man power and time.  The king that over saw all of this was Pachacutec, the earth shaker.  He gave himself that name after he became king.

A veiw from the Plaza before we split up

Santo Domingo sits atop the Incan Sun Temple

Inca stone work precisely cut an polished.  No motar need between these stones.

Check these stones up close that was all done by hand. Or was it could 👽 have helped them.

The courtyard of Santo Domingo

This picture shows how the Spanish painted mosaic over the Incan walls.  This was discover after an earthquake when the plaster and paint was shaken loose.

This archway is the most striking example of Inca stone work.  Amazing

A view back over the courtyard and Avenida de Sol from where an Incan King, Pachacutec should have been seated.

In an act of heroism not seen in some time, Brian went back with 7 girl and they talked him into following them around the market.  So people say they will take a bullet for you.  Brian did!!  When I finally caught up with him and the girls he looked like a boxer after 10 rounds wobble, confused and fighting to say up right.  The pack of wild shoppers continued to wander aimlessly through the market with Brian in toe.

While Brian suffered, I took a few last picture at the Plaza de Armas.

La Compania Catherdral is on my right as you enter the Plaza 

La Cathedral dominates the Plaza.

Pachacutec, the earth shaker.  His fountain is the focal point in the center.

Santo Domingo from the Avenida de Sol.

After these pictures, I caught up with Brian and the girls.  They went to their rooms and I took Brian across the street for a beer.  That in the end I think he paid for.  

We had a wrap up session, where the kids discussed the things that made them happy and sad on the trip.  They broke into groups of 6 and drew murals marking important moments in their trip it wa very cool and hilarious.

Almost home.  What a trip 

We had another wonderful dinner and then it was bedtime.  Tomorrow will be a travel day as we journey home.  

Buenas noches