We have spent the last three days in a very cool town called Raqchi. Raqchi is a small rural town, known for its ceramics, next to another sacred Inca site. There is a small tourism coop made up of 13 local families that welcome travelers into their homes to experience all that the town has to offer. As we stepped off the bus, all 13 women, wearing their traditional dress, were there to greet us. Talk about a welcome! Each one gave us a hug, kiss, welcomed us and said they would meet us later to dance. Oh yeah, here is where I should mention that all three of us Ha NO IDEA what we were in for over the next couple days. All we knew us that we were staying with a local family. So.... We had a dance I look forward to and more.

We made our way to the edge of town and were greeted the CUTEST and friendliest 5 year old named Helen. We would stay with Helen, her little sister, Fernanda, her mother, Beta and her grandmother, Maria, while we were in Raqchi. After we dumped our bags, we had our first of 6 great meals made from scratch by Beta and Maria. Holy s***, Helen and Fernanda will never starve at the hand of their "Mama" and "Mamita." Every meal consisted of a soup, salad, meat/potatoes dish and desert or fruit. We would sit in the small kitchen and be served course after course, made on the small wood stove.

We headed out with Ivar, Maria's son, who took us on a walk around the inca ruins. Ivar was a tour guide, who spoke not a lick of English and spoke Spanish like rapid fire. I became the unofficial translator. Getting about 70% of the info, we made it through.

That night, we had dinner and all the 13 women an a few men gathered at the house where we were staying. Everyone was gathered in traditional clothing and dressed us up. I DONT think I pulled the look off, but it was fun. The women had a ceremony welcoming us and honoring "pachamama" and "Inus" Mother Earth and the mountains. We all drank wine and everyone "poured some out... (Not for their homies however,) ate coca leaves and danced.