OK. So if you heard of Cusco, you might consider it the jumping board to get to Machu Picchu. Well, consider not jumping.
Cusco has more to offer than alititude sickness pills, all more reasonable than the $400 price tag for a day trip to the ruins.
Well what’s to do in Cusco? Let’s start with the llamas. They are everywhere, and are actually pimped out a bit to sell a few items.
If you want a selfie with a llama, expect to cough up some change to buy some llama chow or whatever it is they eat. Llamas and it’s short-eared cousin, the alpaca, are symbols of good luck in this country. That’s why you see their long neck on subjects of art.
I guess the cuy (guinea pig) isn’t revered as much. That’s why you see it on Jesus’s plate.
I happened to arrive in Cusco on the cusp of the Winter Solstice. Not the Summer solstice as Northeners may call it. But the town–make that the entire province– has been celebrating for days with parades, music, dancing and floats.
Can you imagine making this costume for your child?
The festivities culminate at Sexy Women (the gringo pronunciation of Sacsayhuaman), an archeological site walking distance from the city plaza. A reinactment of a llama sacrifice will take place at the end of the festival. You can see the stage below.
I was informed that no llamas will be hurt during this ceremony.
Families celebrate with picnics where they build an earth igloo (my gringo term) to roast a feast of meat and potatoes. I wonder if the kids throw their itchy costume in the fire as well.
I think this ice cream guy is lost.
But llama drama at Sexy Women were just the beginning to my “I’m not paying four hundred dollars for a Machu Picchu selfie” adventure.
Since I’m a member of the “where’s my pillbox” club, whose affiliated chapters may be known as the Depends club or AARP subscibers, I scored a ten day pass to Peruvian ruins and museums for 40 soles, about ten bucks. Machu Picchu is not one of the attractions, but the a mini Machu Picchu, better known as the ruins of Pisak, were included.
I took a public transport known as a colectivo to Pisak to venture these ruins, all with tongue-twiting names. I downloaded a trail map from AllTrails to navigate my hike, but still managed to get lost, ending up on a one-way donkey drive.
That wrong turn also landed me in a hot spot to view giant hummingbirds.
The hike up the Pisac Ruins will take your breath away –literally. I made a slow go of it, taking in the crazy views of stuff I almost remember from high school history (I was in the principal’s office a lot. That’s my excuse). Take time to soak up the view. Your heart will thank you.
Tip: make sure you have your will in order before venturing down these steps. Even with hiking sticks, it was tricky. Don’t worry about a DNR order because Peru doesn’t believe in those things.
A colectivo ride from Cusco to Pisac was 6 soles, less than an Americano at any coffee shop or a box of souvenir llama poop.
I still have a lot of Cusco to see, and may try to tackle the city puma trail. Cusco was named after this creature, another tidbit I gleened visiting the museums.
I wonder what my trail will end up looking like.