This Place Sucks!

Had the upstairs picture Window seat on the 7 hour bus trip from Cusco to Puno.  The good news about that is of course the view.  The bad news is that you can see trucks and buses heading directly toward you as they (or the bus I was riding) pass where there is no room to pass.  Crazy!   A young man sat next to me and was connected in some way with the couple across the aisle.  I immediately thought Italian by the accent, constant talk except when he was eating (and sometimes even then) and I was right.  It turned out that Ernesto is living in Cusco and working for a non-government organization that is trying to improve the lives of women, especially mothers, who live in the country (not in the city - duh).  Anyway he is showing his parents from Napoli around and we all made friends and exchanged phones, emails, etc. and Marilina says I can visit her in Naples anytime despite the fact that she speaks very little English and my Italian stinks.  That's not even the best part.  The best part is that they shared some genuine Italian Gouda that was unbelievable.  The countryside was also spectacular with people herding sheep, cows and llamas - sort of high plains with mountains in the distance. . . Beautiful!

View from the Bus

View from my Room 

Okay, so now for the rest of it.  Puno is a horrid, loud, dirty town that reminds me of the worst parts of East Oakland on steroids and in Spanish.  From this room, I hear lots of horns and traffic interspersed sith the occasional siren and gunshots.  The good news is that tomorrow morning I leave for Lake Titicaca and then be on the night bus out of this hellhole and on to the jungle.  Yikes I am crazy!  Here are some pictures anyway. I seem to be having technical difficulties, so the one picture is typical dress for this region and the virgin Mary is right outside my room in a glass encased altar.