Cusco
We transferred to our hotel and settled in. The hotel was in San Blas, the artsy area of Cusco. A short group meeting was held in the lobby. Holly told the group that most of the day was free to explore the town but by mid-afternoon everyone should meet back at the hotel. Manuel, manager of our porters for our upcoming hike, was having a christening of his newborn baby at the local church and a small lunch at his home afterward. She felt that it would be a good experience for all of us. We all took off in different directions to wander around the town and drink the coca tea, whenever we could.
San Blas
The city seemed to be frozen in time. As we walked the cobblestone streets, men and women in indigenous garb sold fruits and vegetables. Young boys carried wooden boxes to sell foreigners a shoeshine. Quaint cafes and restaurants peppered the winding alleyways and everywhere you looked --- clay-tiled roofs. The colossal stones that made up the walls lining some of the streets were joined so perfectly at many different angles that it made you wonder what type of strange technology was known in the days of the Incan Empire
It was breathtaking in more ways than one and we decided to stop at Jack's Cafe for some tea and a rest. We couldn't believe how short of breath we were so we ordered a second cup of coca tea.
After our tea break, we started heading back to our hotel to meet the group. Along the way, we met a woman with a llama and asked if we could get a picture with her. This town was so uniquely beautiful but it was time to get back to the hotel and take a quick nap before meeting up with the group.
Our Group Hotel in Cusco
Antigua Casona San Blas
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