The next morning we decided that we wanted to take a “rest day” before the hike and to go to Pisac market to shop. Pisac, again, is not close to the city, but our hostess assured us that there were bus stops at the north end of town that would take us directly to Pisac for about 3 soles ($1 US). And so, after more coffee, empanadas, and brownies, we walked to the bus stop.

On the way to the bus stop, we briefly became part of the Peaceful Doctor Protest on accident. Our route just so happened to line up with the route of their march. After we broke off from the protest, we became part of the police squad who lined several blocks in full riot gear to ensure that the Peaceful Doctor Protest stayed that way.

But… where was the bus stop, actually? We wandered up and down the block where the bus was supposed to stop, as no buses drove by. Many taxi drivers offered to drive us to Pisac for many many times the price of the bus. Slightly traumatized from the day before, we all agreed that what we really wanted was a bus.

Two Cusqueno police offers wearing helmets and holding thick plastic shields saw us trying to figure out the map and pulled us aside. They only spoke Spanish. Between the rapid fire Spanish from the taxi drivers, and the slightly slower Spanish from the police officers, I was able to gather that the bus stop had been closed and the buses re-routed due to the protest. I think. These are words that I do not know in Spanish. One officer tried to draw on our limited map where another bus stop was located, but I’m pretty sure he was reading the map upside down and that said bus stop was off the map.

“Espera,” the police officer said. I turned to my friends. “He says wait.” We waited. He looked at the three of us and scolded Sara for holding her purse in an unsafe manner. We waited longer. We couldn’t communicate with each other. I had no concept what we were waiting for.

A police car drove by and the police officer flagged down the car as we stood there, waiting, confused! Police Officer #1: “Hablan Ingles!” They speak English!

Just as I was about to talk to the English-speaking officers, a big green bus came down the street. Police Officer 2 jumped in front of it, waving frantically. It was a bus to Pisac! The police officer had literally hailed a bus for us.

Lesson #5: I am America, and so can you!

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