Cusco Day Three: Exploring

After a rainy and raw day yesterday, the sun came out today and it was nice and warm by noon time. I took my time to leave the hotel because my leg muscles were still sour from the Wayna Picchu and sun gate hikes! I did not train for steps but rather for endurance on flat to moderately hilly terrains. Next time I will know better!! I decided against the city tour because I have visited most of the tourist sites already so no need to redo that so I decided to fill the gaps on the map where I have not been yet. This idea took me through some very narrow streets of Cusco where you have to negotiate with car drivers  who goes first!!! At times I had to stop and stand side ways to let the car pass !! The Casbah of Algiers came to my mind while on those streets today, however Cusco streets  are much safer!!! 

I visited the Machu Picchu museum today and learned a lot about the history and various artifacts found at the site. Machu Picchu was discovered by a Yale University professor, Hiram Bingham, on July 24th 1911. Professor Bingham focused mostly on finding Inca burial sites as they revealed a lot about their life style and stature in the Incan society. The Incas buried their dead with all their possessions. In Quito, I learned that when a high ranking Inca man died they buried his wife with him even if she were still alive. Apparently they drugged her then buried her with her husband!!!! I could not take pictures in this museum so nothing to show here... I also wandered into some market, which are everywhere in this place, this one was called the San Pedro market. It was huge and they sold everything, I have pictures of that one...

I spent a long time sitting in a plaza just watching all the crowds of tourists speaking a multitude of languages. At times I felt like tourists outnumbered the locals, I am sure in that plaza it was the case.

Fruits anyone?? All kinds of fruits some I don't even know!!!

Chicken anyone?? Just in the open, no refrigeration !!!

Bread anyone?

Narrow street where I ventured! Empty and hardly any side walk

The plaza where I sat on a balcony of a cafe and was looking at the crowds below

Peruvian women weaving in an artisanal store

As my trip draws to a close, I often reflect back on what I learned in the last two weeks and I have to say I learned a lot!! South America is an amazing place, full of history and natural wonders. It is a rich continent in every aspect of the word rich; culturally, economically and with natural wonders. Yes the politics of the countries and the rampant corruption are hampering their forward progress, but once they find the magic formula they will be a force to recon with!! If the Incas built a sophisticated empire in the 15th century, their descendent will someday reclaim that glory once more and rise to the top!

Another thing I learned in the last two weeks is that as much as the internet has made the world a small place with all the information at our finger tips, there is no substitute to first hand experience and face to face encounters with different people from around the world to learn about their cultures,  their traditions, their history! We will achieve a much better understanding of each other and how to deal with each other with respect. It is this that the modern electronic age cannot replace! Reading things on the web prepared me somewhat for the trip but the human side I learned it during the trip. I am fearful for our internet age kids that are unable to interact with each other even when in the same room, they prefer to text each other!!!! I hope that this will come to pass and that the all important human interaction will find its central position again, if not ?????

Tomorrow I will tour the sacred valley of the Incas from Chinchero to Urubamba to Pisac where I will visit some more amazing sites and will finish at an Indian market!! Some more excitement for my final full day in Cusco.