I remember coming to Cusco for the first time 13 years ago - and that was when I first fell in love with the city. I was picked up at the small inconspicuous airport by 2 men from the organization (Pro Peru) that I had come down with to teach with - Richard (head of the organization) and Nico Jara Rojas (who is now my Peruvian dad) - we rode into the city centre and stopped first to change money, and then they took me for a mate de coca (Coca tea) which helped adjustments to the new very high altitude of 3400 metres. I remember seeing the massive cathedrals surrounding the main plaza with a grand fountain in the middle. The architecture was incredible - a mix of Spanish on top of ancient Incan stone work. And though I was working and living in the sacred valley - almost every weekend I would bus into Cusco and take in the magnificent city.
It is an old historic city nestled into the Andes - mountains surrounding. Its history is Incan and colonial Spanish. It is an evolving city filled with many restaurants, hotels and hostels, museums, ruins, cathedrals, Incan stone work, markets, and a mix of wonderful people. There is hiking all around, as well as horseback riding, and rafting. Sounds amazing and it is.
The city has also come a long way in 13 years with all hostels and hotels boasting hot water, many with flush toilets, and much cleaner inner city streets.
It is an old historic city nestled into the Andes - mountains surrounding. Its history is Incan and colonial Spanish. It is an evolving city filled with many restaurants, hotels and hostels, museums, ruins, cathedrals, Incan stone work, markets, and a mix of wonderful people. There is hiking all around, as well as horseback riding, and rafting. Sounds amazing and it is.
The city has also come a long way in 13 years with all hostels and hotels boasting hot water, many with flush toilets, and much cleaner inner city streets.
The city is a walkable historic site, not unlike Rome or Paris or Istanbul. The people are friendly and helpful. And it is a destination for so many peoples - researchers, social volunteers, photographers, historians, adventurers, and of course your run of the mill tourists from every which country who come to see Machu Picchu. To be honest Machu Picchu is incredible, but for me, Cusco is more so - it is the living and breathing ruin that is seamlessly both historic and becoming more modern. It is full of unique foods, cultures, festivals, and traditions. The people here are proud of their heritage and it is very much a part of who they are.
The only draw back - especially for people who are always freezing, like myself, is that there is close to no heating in any of the buildings so its important to bring lots of warm clothes - and of course you can always pick up some super warm alpaca sweaters and socks if need be.
The only draw back - especially for people who are always freezing, like myself, is that there is close to no heating in any of the buildings so its important to bring lots of warm clothes - and of course you can always pick up some super warm alpaca sweaters and socks if need be.
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