Woke up early this morning to the smell of tortilla and the usual classic rock my host dad loves. I met Ryan in the plaza this morning and we headed to Yanacoto, a nearby community where a lot of Peace Corps volunteers are living. Since I live in downtown Chaclacayo, I wanted to get out and see a different area. The town is situated in the dusty mountains where the houses are built into the rock and dust, and the aftermath of a landslide remains evident in the center of the community. We walked around and saw everyone’s families and houses. The community is filled with mangy dogs that run around everywhere; pets are often seen more as protection than companions so they’re not always the friendliest creatures.

After our visit to Yanacoto we went to Chosica and wondered around through the markets and streets of the city. They sell just about everything in these markets: everything from pigeon eggs to clothing to electronic equipment. We had lunch there and also went to Plaza Vea, which is essentially a Peruvian version of Wal-Mart, complete with low-cost specials and a brightly colored warehouse layout.