Today I was able to get a cab all the way to the Casa on my own, using my limited Spanish (I usually get dropped off at the Plaza and then walk the 30  minutes to the House).  Today it cost me 20 Soles to get that distance, though I probably could have waited for a cabbie that would give me a better price, or tried negotiating a bit. 
On the way back, it was the first time I had to walk the distance from the Casa to the closest main plaza and then to the main street to catch a cab home.  It was nice getting to see the countryside, and see the farmwork going on along the way. 

When I arrived at the Casa this morning, 7 of the kids were up on the rooftop reading books with two of the Cusco staff.  We let them stand on chairs or held them to look over the wall to the street and countryside below.  For a long time we were entertained by the neighbours accross the way ploughing a field with two oxen.  There was also a flock of sheep up on the hillside, and chickens in the neighbors backyard.  There's some sort of construction project going on further down the road, and the kids love watching the trucks driving up and down the road.  I doubt that they get out past the orphanage area too often, so it was a treat for them to observe the 'outside' world.  It was a treat for me to observe typical country living outside of Cusco!

The kids all have runny noses, and I seem to have picked that up as well.  Arriving "home", it was difficult concentrating on my Spanish, but I am learning lots, and enjoying the language, and eager to become fluent! 
The electric box to provide hot water for the shower hasn't been working the past couple of days, so it was not very enjoyable showering in cold water.  I miss clean bathrooms with hot water, soap and toilet paper!  Even at the orphange, the water is turned off quite often, so the cleanliness I am used to is not nearly the same.  They do bathe the children daily, though, and heat up water on the stove for their baths.

Today at the orphanage we had a delicious meal of lentils and rice, and a tomato & cucumber salad with a dressing very similar to my mom's. :)

Every Thursday night at the place I am currently boarding, they have a Bible-based Discussion group on various topics.  I am looking forward to meeting some of the other English-speaking people who live in this area!