Today was our first morning at the school, which was quickly over-run by students. While they noisily filed into their classrooms, Madeline and I checked out the rest of our hood — that is to say we meandered down the one dirt road that dead-ends at the school. Apparently there are only about 450 people who live in our pueblita. For the most part, the houses resemble the school grounds only there’s more mud-brick construction, plus the occasional aimless chicken.

After downing the last of our hard boiled eggs for breakfast, Mads and I met up with our groundskeeper Baltezar, whom we followed to the nearest “urban area” — Izcuchaca. He showed us how to hop on a large-ish carro that comes by every 15 minutes, and will take you up the road for 1.20 soles. The carros look like 60s VW hippie vans that have been gutted and retrofitted with school bus seats. Still, not a bad way to travel.

When we arrived at Izcuchaca, Baltezar brought us to the market, and Mads and I had to keep from drooling over the myriad of vegetables and actually-ripe fruits. Having been traveling since … Aug. 13, our meals have been patchy at best, so, needless to say, we stocked up.

Back on the ranch, we cooked up some much-deserved almuerzo and coca tea, and then fed some scraps to the pigs. We also got started on our first task — prepping the inside of one of the smaller classrooms to be painted.