Sexy Woman!

February 9th, 2009 by Gabrielle Armstrong

I can´t believe I have been in Cusco for only 1 week! I seem to have crammed so much into the last few days!

On Thursday I went on a sight seeing tour around Cusco with one of my housemates John from Salt Lake City. We decided to take the short walk up into the mountains to see the Sacsayhuaman ruins. Its pronounced ’sexy woman’ and every time you say it, people giggle! Even taxi drivers! It sounds hilarious in a Cusqueñan accent. Unfortunately, it doesn’t translate as such in Quechua! (The Andean language which is also spoke in Cusco)

It was an important fort back in the day and is really well preserved. The hike up there was a little tiresome, because I still wasn’t used to the altitude, but the view of Cusco was well worth it! We also walked up to see the Cristo Blanco, or white Christ, which overlooks Cusco and lights up at night! Its such a pretty sight of an evening along with the twinkling lights from houses in the hillside.

Have also done a fair bit of shopping so far, have bought some ’Gringo’ pants, which are like baggy linen trousers that all the Gringos seem to wear whilst they travel! I look like a bit of a hippy with my patchy tan, bracelets and gringo pants, maybe i will just wear them in the house!! Everything is really cheap and I am loving the bartering, its comedy! However, the best shopping I have done so far has been in the local market ‘El Molino’ in La Florida. (where my house is) Its Gringo-free most of the time and has quite literally everything u could possibly need! The best bit, they have millions of pirate DVDs for 3 soles each (90p)!! And if they don’t have the one you want there, they will go off and burn it for you straight away! We watched Slum Dog Millionaire at home last nite…Perfect Quality! They also have Cd’s, but they can be a little random, like The Beatles in Bossa Nova!! lol

The Beatles seem to be everywhere over here. I went out on Saturday night to a bar ‘Siete Angelitos’ and it was meant to be Reggae night with a live band. It kicked off on Latin Time i.e. an hour late! When a long-haired Apache Indian looking bloke took to the stage with his own rendition of ‘Come Together’ then bashed out a few Led Zepplin and ozzy osbourne choons! The only reggae thing about it was a bloke in the audience who (no joke) looked and was dressed exactly like Osama Bin Laden!! The Happy Half hour made up for the lack of reggae tho, 2.50 pounds for 2 Mojitos…Laughin!

Yesterday, a couple of us went on a tour of The Sacred Valley. The guide took us to the ancient Inka ruins at Pisac, The Temple of the Sun and the Inka city of Ollantaytambo. It was a long day, but gave me a better understanding of Inca culture. They used the landscape and the sun to set their calendar and determine the seasons. Their construction of terraces still dominate the landscape in the valley and their irrigation methods were way ahead of their time! At Ollantaytambo is where the Lares and Machu Picchu valleys can be seen. I can´t wait to do the Inka Trail now! The drive back to Cusco was a bit tiring, but we were rewarded with a beautiful view of the glacier topped mountains.

This weekend, I also met up with a couple of Irish girls I had met whilst staying in Lima. They had just arrived in Cusco and are currently doing their trip to Machu Picchu, but should be back soon and plan to stay in Cusco for a few days. I have also met a fellow scouser here at the language school, from Ormskirk! Its such a small world!

This month its Carnival here (Yes, Latinos need a month long party, apparently a weekend just isn’t long enough!) So at the moment, as a Gringa walking around Cusco its a bit dangerous…..Water balloons are the weapon of choice, Gringos and Suits are the target and Los Niños are the culprits. Apparently the 20/21st is worst and all Gringos are advised to stay in doors or face a soaking! Maybe, I will go away that weekend!? So far, I have been water ballooned in the street and even had a drive by soaking by a child on a bus, armed with a water gun!!

Besos x