Cusco

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So it’s finally time to update you on my big trip around the south of Peru.

First stop: Cusco - the oldest continuously-inhabited city of the Americas and the capital of the Inca Empire!

After a 22 hour bus ride (yes, you read right, 22!!) Jore and I arrived to Cusco in the late afternoon of March 24th. There we met up with Dries and Kristine and we all had a lovely Christmas Eve dinner along with Marion and Cedric (also volunteers at the Casa). We had done a Secret Santa among the six of us, so after the food we exchanged presents, which made it feel a lot more like Christmas. After dinner we went to a café-bar where we spent a very relaxed and fun evening. We all even managed to speak Spanish during the whole night because that is the only language we all understand. It was a very memorable night.

Visited Cusco sites include Qorikancha, the Museo Inka, and a variety of the local café-bars (café by day, bar by night).

Once the richest temple in the Inca Empire, today Qorikancha’s stonework forms the base for of the colonial church and convent of Santo Domingo. Built in the mid-15th century during the reign of the 10th inca (the ruler), Qorikancha was entirely covered in gold; its name in Quechua means Golden Courtyard. Qorikancha also served as an observatory from which the high priests monitored celestial activities. The stonework inside consists of ritual chambers and a number of smaller temples such as the temple of the rainbow. It has a lovely open courtyard in the middle of the temple. Visiting Qorikancha provided an interesting insight into the Incan culture, including a map of the Incan constellations.

Museo Inka is a small museum exhibiting items from the pre-Inca and Incan times. Its most prominent feature is its largest collection of queros in the world. Queros are ceremonial Inca wooden drinking vessels. The museum also had a distinct section of Incan history during the colonial times, before the last inca escaped to the mountains.

Cusco’s Plaza de Armas is possibly the best main square in all of Peru. Very large and spacious, it makes you feel like you can breathe. With the dominating Cathedral opposite of the numerous arches and colonial balcony restaurants, sitting on the plaza on a sunny day is a wonderful way to spend Christmas Day lunch consisting of bread and Philadelphia cream cheese. Yum!

The nightlife is quite alive in Cusco. The majority of the places are cafés during the day and bars during the night. Surprisingly not expensive, the café-bars are equipped with a TV and DVD player and you get to choose what movie to watch (lots of pirate versions of still-in-cinemas movies). Now that sounds like a good joint to me!! They also hold a variety of board games to choose from. The atmosphere is very low-key and relaxing. I also found an amazing jugo place. Good value for money, clean and had the best service that I have experienced in Peru. It was called Yajúu .

So, although I definitely agree that Cusco is a very beautiful city with its cobblestone streets and colonial architecture, I felt it was overpriced and way too touristy. Too many street vendors trying to sell you postcards, paintings, what not. Then there were the little girls dressed in traditional clothing who ran around town with baby llamas under their arms, ready to have their photos taken with tourists. It just felt fake.

Spanish Word of the Day: Jugo = juice

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Next stop: Machu Picchu.

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Photos

Me and Philadelphia cream cheese on Christmas Day at Cusco's Plaza de Armas
I love this photo!

Cedric with his Cusqueña t-shirt
Cusqueña is a beer.

The PigMan!
This man consecutively carried three full-sized pigs by himself into the market. I loved it!

Comments

[Ivanchica]

What does the PigMan represent? :P Btw. Juice bar- that's so you... Me, I'd probably be searching for a coffee shop. Oh and yes, sanitizers are very valuable. Do not let go of that habit :)