...It´s an experience (- Rrrrudy)

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Vamanos Chicos to a land of dizzying heights, tourist traps, and Ican idols...

¨Cusscooöooo¨ (everytime we hear the name, we automatically start singing The Emperor´s New Groove soundtrack).

We arrived in Cusco via nightbus after spending a few days in the beautiful Colca Canyon. Our hotel was modeled after a traditional home with modern ammenities and aesthetics. It was definitely the most luxurious accomodation that we have slept in to date. Hammocks overlooked the rice terraces and mountain valleys while the hotel pet ´Manchez´a hybrid Alpaca and Llamba grazed nearby. Nestled into the crook of a mountain, the Mama Yacchi hotel was definitely a relaxing way to spend the evenings. Wind pan pipe music of all the worldy classics (Circa Titanic, Evita etc) along with a fire and Cacchi (?) corn awaited our return each night.

The hotel backed onto a small footpath down to the valley of hotsprings and waterfalls. The locals were all bathing in the water warmed by nearby volcanic activity. We spent a little too long down by the riverbed and as we were making the laborious journey back up the mountain, the sun set. It was definitely an experience trying to hike back up tiny paths of a mountain in the dark while donkeys, sheep and bulls along the path were snarling at us. We also felt severely inadequate as two tiny kids darted up the path to the soundtrack of our gasps and weezes.

The next day we went hiking along the colca canyon (the deepest in the world and almost twice the height of the Grand Canyon!). Spotted some condors (giant birds...not giant snakes...as I first understood us as going to find). We finished the day with some zip lining and more hot spring swimming at the local hot spring ´club´. Zip lining was amazing! Our launch was about halfway up the mountain and continued down into the valley. We needed to keep our arms and legs in at strategic points to avoid being ricocheted off rocks or knocking out locals who were walking below us. The hot springs, complete with a bar, were a nice way to finish off the evening.

***Side note: to anyone venturing into Peru, be sure to try the hot chocolate. It is simply the best hot chocolate you will ever taste. It´s infused with cloves and spices and is enormously delicious. ***

The colca valley is a magical place. The locals still wear their traditional garb and much of the native heritage has been carried on. During the spanish conquest, evangelization and subsequent resistance of the locals the population in the valley went from 32 000 to 7000. Despite the destruction of many statues and sacred historic sites, much of the culture has clung to survival.

The trip from the Colca Canyon to Cusco was...an experience...as night buses always are.

Cusco is altogether absolutely breathtaking and irritatingly touristy. The city is famous for ´charging you even for the air you breathe´ (I´m sure the saying is more poetic in spanish). Though, we got free salsa dancing lessons last night for our entire group, which was hilarious. I think we spent more time crying with laughter than sachez-ing. The city is packed with action. It is upbeat and vibrant but also has a very dark side.

Drug trafficking and the drug mafia is rampant in Cusco and we have been taking lots of precautions. Tourist traps are common. This morning Sam and I were walking back to the hotel and saw a boy about the age of 2 who seemd to be sitting and sobbing alone on the sidewalk. Due to extreme poverty, child exploitation is common and many parens use their children to make extra cash. Though it breaks your heart to walk past a crying baby, these types of schemes are commonplace. The police have also been known to work with locals to scam tourists whether over drugs or street children.

We are heading to do a tour of the Sacred Valley tomorrow and then begin our Lares trek through the mountains where we will finish at the famous Manchu Picchu. We´re really excited and a little unnerved for the few days hiking excursion. We keep being warned that we will be freezing at night. On that note, I think we are going to go to the local market to buy some long alpaca socks and some more layers. Brrrr.

Love,
S n L

Check out the theme song to the Emperor´s New Groove which has been stuck in our heads. Hum along with us... 😊

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Comments

[Gail Sherman]

Whew.........
Sounds like fun girls - enjoy as we jealously ready about your adventure. Be careful as you proceed into the colder high altitude. Love you, Maw!