Last day in Peru

We awoke this morning knowing that this was to be our final day in Peru. As usual, the profs went out for early coffee, and the cafe was filled with colorfully frosted cakes for Mother's Day. Occasional random fireworks also signified the day. We all enjoyed a nice hotel breakfast and then set out on foot to explore Cusco.

We visited a Benedictine church that had been built atop and Incan the temple after the Spanish razed it. There were beautiful courtyards and gardens that retained many of the masterfully carved original Incan walls:



We walked through the sprawling, bustling Cusco market:




Many souvenirs were purchased! A short walk led to another great Peruvian meal (chicken soup with dried corn, stir fry rice with deep fried trout), and then to our hotel to repack. 

At 1:15PM local time we began our almost incomprehensibly long journey home. Flight #1 of 4 is a domestic flight from Cusco to Lima:

I'm going to end this blog entry here, while we are still happily aglow with warm Peruvian memories. I won't bespoil this entry with details of our difficult journey home!

But I will end on this note: every person on this trip, every student and every professor, is grateful to have had this opportunity. We all squeezed out every bit of learning and enjoyment and memories that we possibly could. I am so proud of every student for the effort they displayed and the enthusiasm that they unceasingly showed. I've never been prouder to have led a trip for New England College. Thank you all! 

- Prof. Eric J. Simon

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