Blogs from Cusco, Cusco, Cusco, Peru, South America - page 66

What was initially supposed to be a week long stay in the ´Navel of the World´ actually turned out to be a fleeting visit, due to Jake´s altitude sickness. When we arrived in Cusco two days before the start of the Inca Trail, and spent a day browsing the many market stalls to find the perfect alpaca jumpers and seeing the twinkling lights of the city tower above the Plaza de Armas at night we mutually decided that we loved the place. The streets that lead off from the Plaza are peppered with buildings boasting classic Incan masonry. The granite bricks are carved in perfect alignment to each other; so much so that we are told that the centurys newer colonial Spanish buildings all fell in earthquakes leaving just the Incan foundations remaining as inch perfect ... read more

ok...so it is flippin freezing!!! i´m not kidding. it is freezing! were you aware that it could be flipping freezing this close to the equator? obviously i didn´t. i actually bought 2 scarfs and a sweater. i´m now really regretting now buying the rediculous looking hat and gloves set a street vendor was trying to sell me. it is FREEZING FREEZING FREEZING. i fell like i´m in connecticut at xmas...ok, not that bad but close because i don´t have the clothing for it. i´d love to post a lovely picture of me in my alpaca yes, alpaca sweater and scarves but this computer doesn´t have a usb drive, so can´t upload. well, i guess i should have known considering i´m now 11,000 feet above sea level. god, i knew it would be cold but not this ... read more

We travelled on to our next stop, Cusco, by bus, passing some great scenery along the way. As we reached the highest pass, there were snow capped mountains and the inevitable market stalls selling all sorts of llama and alpaca clothes that you can find everywhere in Peru! After the pass, we headed down through the scenic valley, passing little villages and towns... a taster perhaps of things to come on the Inca Trail! When we arrived into Cusco, the city was really busy. We stayed near the main square, Plaza de Armas and the road outside was full of children dressed in colourful local dress. After we checked in, we watched as hundreds of children danced down the road outside of our hotel to Peruvian music, heading into the main square. Apparently there are always ... read more

Een rustige week, want natuurlijk kan je weinig plannen als het EK aan de gang is! Cusco´s Nederlandse restaurant (inclusief orange muren) is natuurlijk weer de stamkroeg van keuze. De enige tent waar je bitterballen en broodjes kroket kan krijgen voor bij het voetbal. Tot mijn grote verdriet moest ik telkens na de eerste helft weg (ik heb hier immers ook nog zoiets als werk), maar het schijnt de uitslag niet beinvloed te hebben. Geen voetbal afterparty dus, maar hopelijk ben ik er voor de kwart finale. Er was weinig te doen op de Hogar deze week. Het grootste deel van de week zijn ze bezig geweest met voorbereidingen voor het feest van donderdag. INABIF, de geldschieter van dit weeshuis (en 29 anderen in Peru), had zijn verjaardag en dat werd uitgebreid gevierd. Ik weet niet ... read more

The Inca Capital Cusco was the Inca Capital for over hundred years and a lot of history can be found in this city. The historical centre is beautiful with cobblestone streets, remains of Inca walls, churches and chatedrals. I visited the Inca museum after been to Machu Picchu. It was a interesting tour worth doing if you are here. You can easily spend a few days in Cusco without really doing anything special. Just soak in the atmosphere, eat some local food in the market or drink a coffe on one of Plaza de Armas many balconies. It's a great city to visit! "Sexy Woman" Or Saqsaywanàn which is the real name, is situated on a hilltop above Cusco. David, Ruth and I walked up to have a look on saturday. The ruins had both military ... read more