Sweet sweet Cuzco

One thing I really love about Peru is how many kisses I get!  Really, I probably average 5-10 kisses a day.  Today I definitely hit 15 or so.  Its important to note that Peru does one cheek kiss - with the right cheek.  Don't be weird and try to use the left.

I realize that many countries participate in kissing on the cheek as a greeting or departure, but since my most extensive experience has been in Cuzco, I prefer to imagine it is the overwhelming good-natured character of the people here.

When I walk into the office in the morning, we all kiss a greeting (this diminishes a bit mid-week but definitely starts strong after the weekend).  If I meet someone for lunch, professional or casual - kissing.
I was practically drowning in kisses on Saturday night when I went to my friend ( Quechua instructor, or Yachachiq, from 2011) Alicia's house for dinner.  I was able to meet her family earlier in the week so I already knew everyone - but, man, did I get a warm welcome!

My new family!  No reason to ever go back - I even have brothers now.

Upon arrival, I received an official tour of the garden and learned about many new plants (though I'd be hard pressed to reproduce what I'd heard). Then, Alicia and I went on a walk to the 'oven'.  I wasn't sure what that meant but I followed obediently and we chatted lightly as we walked the 5 or so blocks through the neighborhood.  I've learned its sometimes better just to figure things out on your own (or of course, you're welcome to ask if you feel confident you'll understand the answer).

After turning onto a relatively dark street, we stepped into a nondescript building with a dark courtyard.  When we turned into the room on the right, I saw a gigantic oven, full of trays of potatoes and meat, and a man placing wooden logs inside it.  He used a long stick to fish out Alicia's tray - papas de pastel (pretty much a baked potato and cheese awesome thing). I stepped up and carried the hot dish back while we talked some more (using newspaper scraps as potholders). It costs 3 soles to have someone else bake a dish for you, a little more for meat, she informed me. (I really wish I had photos of this but again, I didn't know where we were going!)

Once we got back, I cracked one of the two bottles of wine I'd brought. We stepped outside to pour out the first sip as an offering to Pachamama (see photo below). Alicia and I had a few minutes alone and had an amazing discussion about family, religion, Apukuna, and living in the moment.

Pouring a lil out for Pachamama - precisely where Alicia directed me (not where people walk)

Its not anyone's birthday it just looks like it

After chatting a bit, the guests started to arrive (Alicia's sister is a neighbor up the street so it was a no-fuss affair).  Okay, lets see if I can remember everyone's names: Geraldo, Alicia, Rodrigo, Mauricio, Alejandro, Alcides, Magda, and.... crap I never got reminded of the late-comer's name.  Ah well, next time!  We will definitely be doing this again.

This is dinner

This is dinner with dinner company (Alicia to the left in red <3) 

When it was time to go we all kissed and kissed (I got two from Alicia's sister!) and said Tupanchiscama!