Cusco

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Arrived in Cusco after a quick and satisfying 8 hr bus journey from Puno. Quick because I slept the whole way and satisfying because I barterted with the bus company and got the tickets for the five of us for just 15 soles each, about 3 pounds!

We celebrated our arrival in Cusco with a much deserved night out, not sure how I managed it after Puno but one has to be strong! We met up with a friend the three girls had made while they were travelling in the US, as she is now renting in Cusco and knows all the local bars. We went to a bar which had pictures on its sign resembling magic mushrooms, and once you had been inside for a while you realised why. It was very cosy - basically someones converted sitting room with a bar, a table and about 20 people. After being there for half an hour we knew everyone, a team of four welsh girls makes quite an impact! The band playing seemed to know pretty much any English rock or indie song from the past 40 years along with a couple in Spanish which was fun.

We later went to a club called Mythology - the only myth is how on earth they make a penny for within minutes of arriving us four girls were lifted up onto the bar to dance and were given shots of rum, poured straight into our mouths, as often as we liked all night. I think it helped that we said we were sisters, where four Welsh girls gains attention, four Welsh sisters cause uproar! Poor Ben, who had taken it upon himself to look after us all, didn´t quite know what to do and I think he may have started going grey as a result - sorry Ben!!

Sunday was a rather lazy day - I managed to get out and see quite a bit of Cusco and we also found a British pub, I have decided that this may be my one opportunity to get a bit of a British Christmas so enjoyed a pint (a proper pint!) of Old Speckled Hen, which took about 15 minutes to pour as the altitude messes up the gas, explaining why they only drink nasty bottled lager here. The pub also had a Wlesh rugby jersey and a Welsh flag, I almost felt homesick but then it started raining outside and I remembered why I came away...

I am now planning to do the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu, so an early night ready for a 5am departure.

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Photos

Cusco
Busy main street in Cusco

Christmas play
Local kids getting ready for their Navidad play

Loki
Looking down on the city from Loki hostel

English beer!
Ipa, abbot or hen anyone? Quite an excellent choice in my humble opinion!

Hen at altitude
Pouring at altitude takes skill, three glasses and a lot of patience!

A taste of home
The British pub

The Point Hostel
The very quiet bar at our hostel... quiet until you need to sleep that is

Rice and flour
Buying rice in the supermarket

C´mon Wales!
Joy at finding a Welsh rugby jersey

Welsh sisters??
I promised the girls I wouldn´t post this due to the double chins but I couldn´t resist!

Happiness
Happiness is a pint of Hen!