Last week

Tis the last week here in Peru. I feel like I've been here forever. We are kind of in a rush this last week to finish up the two units we have open. We have tons of ceramics to wash and float samples to complete. It's hard to get this stuff done though because it gets dark here by 6 since it is winter. But we will find a way. I've been spoiled these last few days after taking a taxi into town each evening and walking around the mall and Starbucks. We hike up a mountain every morning and now I'm all the way on top. Takes about 45 min to get there. My legs still get just as tired and my lungs hurt just as much as they did in the beginning. It also doesn't help that we have to carry all of our equipment up and down everyday, but it is the life as an archaeologist. We all just ate dinner that our Peruvian cook Natalie makes for us every night, but everyone went up to their rooms. I'm sitting in the back with my legs in the thermal heated pool, looking up at the stars and just thinking. I regret feeling so homesick but I think it's just unavoidable. I want to see the new house that Shane found for us, and to be where I am comfortable. It has been a trip with definite ups and downs, but I came here for a reason. I've been doing better rash wise, but it comes and goes even on immunosuppressants. I don't think I will know what the cause is unless I go home and still have the problem. In that case, I'm glad I work at a doctors office. I did a bit too much googling the other night and saw internal parasites as a possible reason for hives. Hopefully not, but it would make sense. My bags are pretty much packed to go home. I have bought so many souvenirs I needed to make sure they would all fit. Here are a few more pictures I have taken. 

One of several monolith structures that are in the area. Many times these act as doorways into rooms, but these stand on their own. Your guess is as good as mine as to their purpose. 

View from the top of the mountain we are on every day. 

These ladies help us everyday by clearing out all of the weeds that cover up fallen walls. You can see some of them in the picture. 

Another free standing monolith, but it is associated with the rock fall around it most likely. 

View walking down from the site area. 

Picture of one of the units. You can see the prehistoric walls. We still aren't done with it, although some bedrock did start to become exposed, which is a sign we are getting close to sterile levels. The project director Jason got caught in my photo as well. 

See the top? Yeah that is the brutal hike we make every morning. My legs hurt just thinking about it. Well, off to watch Netflix. More pictures of the last week to come.