Monday the 12th of May 2003 – Day 83 to Friday the 16th of May 2003 – Day 87
Well, Im off on the Inca Tail tomorrow morning with South America Travel. The cost was 135 US (with fake students card). Prices range from 100 US to 280 US. I could have got it cheaper if I came back in a day later but….. Anyway the coca leafs and whiskey have been bought.
Just to finish things off for now. I like Cuzco. I enjoyed the walking and to a smaller extent discovering who the Inca were and what they did. It is very easy to stay in the gringo centre, but the city is like Prague. You can choose to drink and party your stay here away (which I did in Prague over two weeks, but have since redemmeded myself with that city), or get to know it.
I have yet to get to know Cuszo. I have only scratched the surface. Its a cliche, but everyday you discover something new. The city is full of back alleys, cobbled streets and lane ways, where people live. I have seen local shebeens (pubs), lads drinking wheat beet – and I have yet to interact fully here. I plan to stay for a few days while I come back and return again for:
Inti Raymi (Cusco): “The Festival of the Sun, one of the greatest pageants in South America, celebrates the winter solstice and honors the Inca sun god with a bounty of colorful Andean parades, music, and dance. It takes over Cusco and transforms the Sacsayhuam?n ruins overlooking the city into a majestic stage.”
And more:
Corpus Christ – Cusco – 29th of June and maybe:
Virgen del Carmen (Paucartambo) on the 14th – 16th of July: The tiny, remote Andean colonial village of Paucartambo is about 4 hours from Cusco, but it hosts one of Peru’s wildest festivals. Its 3 days of dance, revelry, drinking, and outlandish, scary costumes pack in thousands who camp all over town (there’s almost nowhere to stay) and then wind up at the cemetery.
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Cuzco – Peru
Taken between the 12-05-2003 to the 16-05-2003
Cuzco – Peru – Girls on Film (2) Price was 1 S each for modeling.
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Cuzco – Peru
Taken between the 12-05-2003 to the 16-05-2003
Cuzco – Peru – Riot Police. There have been protests that have closed roads and tourist attractions in the city for the past three days. Mainly protesting for better access to education. These have drawn tens of thousands of people to the cities streets. They are lively, loud affairs with chanting, banners, looundspeakers and fun. Not for transport though. They block streets for the whole day. I see water cannon on the streets today.
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Cuzco – Peru
Taken between the 12-05-2003 to the 16-05-2003
Cuzco – Peru – Three crosses overlooking the city close to the Christ statue. One hours walk from the city centre.
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Cuzco – Peru
Taken between the 12-05-2003 to the 16-05-2003
Cuzco – Peru – Parrot Boy – Just 1 sole for the pose. Real snotty nose.
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Cuzco – Peru
Taken between the 12-05-2003 to the 16-05-2003
Cuzco – Peru – I know its just a donkey .. but he was all alone and didnt ask for a tip ……
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Cuzco – Peru
Taken between the 12-05-2003 to the 16-05-2003
Cuzco – Peru -Just a 50 C tip (half of one sole). She didnt ask
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Cuzco – Peru
Taken between the 12-05-2003 to the 16-05-2003
Cuzco – Peru – Met them herding cows and sheep on a back road outside Cuszo. Had a guy on horseback as well.
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Cuzco – Peru
Taken between the 12-05-2003 to the 16-05-2003
Cuzco – Peru – A Tourist watching tourists. Camera out.. a tip due .. modern tourism in action. These kids are everywhere. At all the sites. Cute, but If I saw a tourist in Cork, Ireland, giving money to a guy dressed in old garb carrying turf on a donkey, I would really laugh, saying “bloddy tourists”. I guess its the same here. Well, must try harder.
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