The City of Cusco
Thursday 23
After breakfast in the cold breakfast room, we decided to acclimatise to the altitude by devising our own walking tour of Cusco, Peter marching ahead, with Google Maps in hand, with Lynne and Vivien finding their lungs at a more sedate (sensible) pace.
First we aimed for a bank, as we felt we needed more local currency. Getting the ATM to give up the Peruvian Sol notes took longer than anticipated, but with good thinking by Vivien, we exchanged the large notes we received, into a wad of smaller denominations.
Then we took a circumbendibus route past a Plaza with a market and some sort of municipal event in preparation. We stopped for coffee and a humungous fresh pineapple juice, before making our way to San Blas, a lovely square with an impressive fountain and backpacker shops.
We enjoyed walking along the narrow lanes and up the steps between the whitewashed cottages and shops. Lynne bought an alpaca hat.
The cathedral was huge and ornate, very reminiscent of the cathedral we had visited in Malaga. It actually comprises 3 churches; building work commenced in 1533 and took 134 years to complete.
We found our way down steep cobbled roads to Plaza de Armas which houses the Cathedral, restaurants and many shops, and is the tourist centre of Cusco.
We strolled around the surrounding area with its many beautiful houses, hotels, museums and vibrant squares. There were many women in traditional colourful costume with alpacas.
For dinner we booked a table at the nearby Mama Jama, which was very well reviewed. It was a disaster. Our waitress was very accommodating but the kitchen lacking (lacking a chef, Peter thinks).
The restaurant was cold as was Vivien’s plate and meal. Lynne was the only one who (nearly) completed her meal, and wished she hadn’t the following day!
We had a most successful day, covering a lot of Cusco, finding our bearings.