Cusco, Costumes, and Coca Tea
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
June 11
It took longer to get back to Lima than we had anticipated. We ended up staying at a little hostel just down the road from our original hotel. We slept well and got up early to head to the airport for a 9:30 plane.
Upon arrival we learned that our flight didn’t actually leave until 12:30 so we grabbed a table in the food court and started playing cards. Soon after Nancy left for the restroom everyone was asked to leave the area. There was to be no dawdling, all were forced out rather quickly.
We were given no answers to our inquiries. We were told by the burly man that Nancy was fine and that we would not be allowed access until further notice. Eventually we learned that a bag had been left in one of the shops. Only after it had been checked by the bomb squad were we given permission to re-enter.
Our flight took us to Cusco. This mountain town was once an Incan Mecca of sorts. During those times there were about 300,000 inhabitants. They built tremendous temples and structures throughout the area. The entire city was laid out in the shape of a puma. This sacred animal represents our earthly life in the Andean faith. It is rumored that there were great sculptures of gold and silver within the temple.
When the Spanish arrived in the early 1500’s they melted down the statues and tore down all the temples. There are now twenty-three Catholic churches within the city limits of Cusco.
It is a beautiful, clean city. The people are very friendly, although they are very pushy in their selling practices. We arrived there one week before their anniversary. This brought out hundreds of people dressed in traditional garb and dancing in parades. These parades changed from day to day so that we witnessed adults, little kids, adolescents, and young adults in this ritual.
We all spent the first day purchasing hats and warm clothing. Cusco is located at about 10,000 feet making it rather chilly. Our hotel had plenty of Coca tea which is said to help with altitude issues. We drank it regularly and none of us suffered any ill effects. Even Zachary came to really enjoy the flavor.
We were all excited to be in this mountain village. It was a significant step towards Machu Picchu, the culture was alive and dancing in front of us, and the Incan history was beckoning.
MJR
June 11
It took longer to get back to Lima than we had anticipated. We ended up staying at a little hostel just down the road from our original hotel. We slept well and got up early to head to the airport for a 9:30 plane.
Upon arrival we learned that our flight didn’t actually leave until 12:30 so we grabbed a table in the food court and started playing cards. Soon after Nancy left for the restroom everyone was asked to leave the area. There was to be no dawdling, all were forced out rather quickly.
We were given no answers to our inquiries. We were told by the burly man that Nancy was fine and that we would not be allowed access until further notice. Eventually we learned that a bag had been left in one of the shops. Only after it had been checked by the bomb squad were we given permission to re-enter.
Our flight took us to Cusco. This mountain town was once an Incan Mecca of sorts. During those times there were about 300,000 inhabitants. They built tremendous temples and structures throughout the area. The entire city was laid out in the shape of a puma. This sacred animal represents our earthly life in the Andean faith. It is rumored that there were great sculptures of gold and silver within the temple.
When the Spanish arrived in the early 1500’s they melted down the statues and tore down all the temples. There are now twenty-three Catholic churches within the city limits of Cusco.
It is a beautiful, clean city. The people are very friendly, although they are very pushy in their selling practices. We arrived there one week before their anniversary. This brought out hundreds of people dressed in traditional garb and dancing in parades. These parades changed from day to day so that we witnessed adults, little kids, adolescents, and young adults in this ritual.
We all spent the first day purchasing hats and warm clothing. Cusco is located at about 10,000 feet making it rather chilly. Our hotel had plenty of Coca tea which is said to help with altitude issues. We drank it regularly and none of us suffered any ill effects. Even Zachary came to really enjoy the flavor.We were all excited to be in this mountain village. It was a significant step towards Machu Picchu, the culture was alive and dancing in front of us, and the Incan history was beckoning.
MJR
posted by Bronx to Timbuktu at 7:08 PM
1 Comments:
Dear Mark,
Thanks for the great picture and observations! Keep it up!
love,
Linda
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