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Published: June 25th 2007
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Cusco Plaza Armes
One of the many street procession happening all week It´s my third week in Cusco and i absolutely LOVE it - I am actually staying longer than initially planned. It´s the people that make a place memorable and give you an attachment to it, rather than the scenery, although that is pretty amazing.
Been rafting in the River Urumbaba, Sacred Valley. A little disappointed because i was told that that it would be a fast one and I thought I had bagged a bargain at 25 USD - but you get what you pay for and all the agencies use the same provider so it was Grade 1-3 for me. 35USD if you want the faster Grade 3-5. The highlight was the scenery and the games our rafts were playing on each other, rather than the rafting itself- Kind of reminded me of Nepal, but the mountains are sharper, less wild and browner in colour - also most of them have been ridged for farming during Inca times.
The Spanish school was excellent, would really reccommend it - better than any 10 week course you do at home. I now can speak in the past tense!
All week has been street processions, fiestas, all building up
to Inti Raymi, the Winter Sun Solstice - i.e. honoring the Sun, father of Inca. So many people - I nearly got squashed in the calle - the Peruvians are so passionate, it´s hilarious. This Inti Raymi celebration was banned by the Church because of it being seen as Pagan worship; it is only recently that it has been brought back into the public fore, but now more of a tourist thing - now it is said to be the 2nd biggest festival in Sud America after the Rio Carnival.
Speaking of Church, I have never ever been confronted by such profound Christianity - well not since our RE teacher, the relgious nut Mr Agnes, who used to boast about running along the beach embracing God and screaming with exaltation. Anyway, yeah I went to this town called Limatambo on Saturday to visit my friend Kerin´s house. Her Dad is the pastor of the village. Wasn´t expecting a whole sermon, being made to present myself to the WHOLE church, in Spanish and take part in heart felt Christian sing songs, where even my friends Karla and Kerin were near tears singing about Jesus dying for our sins (which I
Rio Urumbamba
That water is COLD! have never understood and am not advanced enough in Spanish to ask). It was quite overwhelming but I liked the fact that there was no care factor, and people could just be passionate without fear of being judged or reprimanded. I think I offended the pastor when I said that I thought there were some similarities with the Muslim religion, i,e, about the bit of giving 10% of your salary. After a little rant, little of which I understood, I could tell he didn´t much take to me after that! Oh well, one less person to ask me ´What do I believe in, if I don´t believe in Jesus?´ - one girl even screwed her face with disbelief when i said that I was a Hindu and didn´t believe in Jesus. Felt like saying, well I don´t believe in the Virgin Mary that´s for sure!
Jokes aside, and although I´m not a Christian, I can really appreciate the work of people like Mama Estella (the mother of our house) and Hermana Nilda (the leader of ELIM) do for the children, ie instil values and love. I also like the fact that, unlike my school did, they do not force
Cusco street
near the boy´s school - another ´desfile´ No she´s not a drag queen, this isn´t Rio their views on you, they are just so full of compassion.
Oh yeah - if you come to Cusco, you have to go to a salsa club, it is amazing! People just go to dance and anjoy, I love the vibe. I´ve had a couple of lessons, but am nowhere near the level of the chicas and chicos that regularly dance their stilletos off! A stay in Cusco would also not be complete without dancing to REGATTONG - kinda Spanish rap - Club Mukki is fab.
Also, although I am really enjoying Cusco, a few tips to ensure that Cusco doesn´t enjoy YOU too much (had to learn the hard way on some of these)
1. Don´t buy a mobile phone from any of the markets - just from reputable stores, where they should give you a box and recepit. Mine was robbed and stopped working after 4 hours.
2. Buy a tourist ticket, nothing else. It´s 10 USD and includes most of the sites around Cusco. I knew this but still fell for the sites of religious interest tickets (you would have thought I was getting enough!) offering a student price.
3. Only get
The two Indians
best bindis in town your money from the banks or reputable money exchangers in Ave del Sol - there are so many fakes flying around. And get someone to tell you what to look for in fakes. There´s also a decent exchange place in the Plaza.
4. Don´t get in any dog´s way - some are vicious!
5. of course the usual - keep all valuables on you - i have a fab money belt that fits under my pants (trousers) and always put my cam in my jeans pocket, close to me.
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Sanj
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Happy dayz!
Looks like your really N-join!,nice bindi :O), Rio Urumbamba looks amazing wow!, more pics pls take care spk soon...