Cusco, Peru
3° 16' S 72° 25' W
Jul 19, 2006 02:14
Distance 1101km

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Cusco and the Sacred Valley

After our Machu Picchu visit we spent the next three nights in Cusco exploring the city and touring the surroundings. Cusco was a nice change from the hot jungle as it's hot in the day and cool at night because the city is located at about 11,000 ft. First we took an all day tour through the Sacred Valley visiting other old cities and more Incan sites as they are everywhere you look. Cusco itself it built on Incan ruins. We visited the small city of Pisac where they were celebrating the Festival de Carman and we got to see all the people dressed up in costumes and their Sunday service in Quechua (the Incan language). It was really neat but all Steph and I can think about is why we didn't buy any of the corn that looked so delicious. It seems to be their specialty. Oh well. That night we treated ourselves to an authentic dinner and show where I ate all the traditional food that I hadn't already tried in the jungle like alpaca and guinea pig. (Both muy bueno.) We then had a show with the local music and dancing. And as lucky as I have been on this trip I got picked to go onstage and participate in some sort of local traditional dance thing. Steph and I called the game "Pin the fire on the Peruvian." I had to chase the Peruvian around the stage with candles trying to light his tail on fire as he performed some sort of mix between a hula dance and the twist. And then we had to switch. Steph tried to get pictures but I'm sure she was laughing at me too hard to get a clear shot. I'm such a trooper.

The next day we took a city tour of Cusco with the usual cathedral visits and more Incan ruins outside the city. Today we then took a 9 hour bus ride through the bumpy road to Puno. The route was long and boring through the mountains of nothing. We did reach over 14,000 ft during the day though. Lucky for us though we had muni tea to ease the altitude and bus sickness. It's now our last big city before we leave. So sad.

Photos / videos of "Cusco and the Sacred Valley":

Sacred Valley At the festival de Carmen Cute little local lady from Pisac Gathering for the service at the festival in Pisac The service in front of the church at the festival Hiking around Ollantaytambo, another Inkan site Saqueswamon (it´t totally spelled wrong. steph and i just call it Sexy Woman instead) More posing in front of rocks Literally the view of Cusco from our window at the hostel Steph and I posing at the Temple of the Water after climbing a 14er. (We are well over 14,000 ft here) More costumes and parades. These people love parades. I think we saw at least 4 while we were in Peru These are what the macaws looked like in the jungle only these are pets at a pottery place in the Sacred Valley. And they are bigger than u think Festival de Carmen View of glacier from Ollantaytambo Coca tea Another Incan site
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