First, we went to the school where the girls go. There was a huge parade and ceremony with firecrackers and everything to celebrate the achievements of the hundreds of girls who go here.

Believe it or not, most of these kids have never been to a mall, played video games or had ice cream. I know what you’re thinking, they can live without the mall and the video games. But they collectively decided they wanted to do this and who are we to deny them.

Almost there!

Ah, the wonders of endless aisles and shops of stuff. There’s only one mall in Cusco and it looks and feels very out of place. When you walk through the doors you step out of old world Peru and right into what looks like a Home Depot with a modern mall attached to that. A little disconcerting for me but the kids were awestruck. I came to get away from all this but they can’t wait to get into it. what a world.

I don’t care where you’re from this is fun!

ICE CREAM!!! Only 2 soles a cone

Later that evening there was dancing, singing, poetry and lots of love. I will never forget these kids or my time here. The last time my heart grew like this was when my son was born.