Today was the day we made real progress on the building the casa project is due to be moving in to next week. Another volunteer and I spent most of the morning and afternoon finishing sanding the front of the building. The paint turned us completely blue and is pretty impossible to get off, so led to an abundance of peruvians pointing and laughing at us more than usual! After we finished the work I took a combi home alone for the first time. A combi is one of the mini vans I mentioned when I first got to Peru, but they are completely different from the inside. There is no sense of personal space and it is common for 3 or 4 people to squash on to one seat. When the seats are full, no worries, there is standing space, and they pack people on so tight that you couldn't move if you tried. When there is no standing room left, don't worry, they let you hang put the door on the outside of the van! However for around 20p for an hours ride it's worth the trip. On the way home on the combi we drove past a Market where there was a local with a very special pet, a fortune telling monkey in a glittery hat and waistcoat. The idea is that you give the monkey money and then it hands you a fortune cookie. As much as it may be harsh and you can't help but feel sorry for the monkey, I would love for the little monkey to shake my hand and tell me my fortune.
After being here a week I decided that it's time for me to do some laundry, then I changed my mind and went to the local lavanderia, or laundrette. For around £3.50 they are going to wash, iron and fold all my clothes I brought with me, all within 24 hours, not bad if you ask me.
After being worn out from today's work I decided to take a nap but was woken by the sound of flutes, drums and trumpets so armed with my camera went outside to discover a full blown fiesta parade dancing down the street in full bright costume! It's something I have never witnessed before and was amazing to see. Reading through my travel book it also tells me in Huancayo there are around 400 fiestas a year, soon sure I will see plenty more.
This evening it's back out to explore more of the town and see what else we can uncover!