We are now in Cusco, Peru. A beautiful place steeped in the traditions of ancient history and mythology. It is also a tourist mecca and a magnet for hustling entrepreneurs trying to sell anything from woolen finger puppets to postcards to empty coca-cola glass bottles.
Click below to read on......
No Peruvian travel story would be complete without an airport disaster tale. It was a disaster enough when Haley and I discovered that our flight from Santiago to Lima left at 6-40am! This meant we had to be at the airport at 4-40am which meant we had to leave the hostel at 4am! So naturally, we did not sleep that night and decided to learn cuban salsa dancing instead with Leo and Daniel.
So we get to Santiago airport at 4-40am like good travellers. But someone failed to tell us that Lan Chile staff only start work at about 5am. So there we were waiting and waiting only to be greeted at the check-in counter by a mean and angry lan chile woman who didnt answer our questions and only charged me departure tax! Worse, she assured us that our luggage would be checked through all the way to Cusco (our connecting flight from Lima). So we belived her.
So what do you suppose Haley and I saw as we casually strolled past the baggage carousel at Lima airport? Yes, our luggage. If we hadnt walked past the carousel at that exact time we would have just believed that dumb woman when she said that she checked the bags through all the way. SO, ok - fair enough. Allīs well that ends well. But thats not all.
When we checked in at Lima airport we asked to be put on an earlier flight to Cusco. The lady said ĻokĻand put us on a flight 1 hour earlier. So we go to the gate, get on the plane, put our seatbelts on, start reading the in-flight magazine etc etc and then we get tapped on the shoulder to be told that the flight is over-booked and we must get off. The only thing is that our original flight was booked out now as well. Haley and I did our best at looking completely unimpressed and like the biggest injustice had been committed against us. Somehow she got us on our later flight and it was ok. Just a bit of a drama.
Cusco is a gorgeous city. It is burrowed between mountains and has a quaint character to it. The worst thing about it is how commercial and touristy it is. The western tourist definitely rules the roost here. Everyone tries to sell you something. Children as young as 4 and 5 are out there selling postcards and knick-knacks as their parents stand watching a few metres away - prompting them to be cuter and to increasingly impress us with their knowledge of Australia or wherever the tourist is from. Its very sad. To think that these descendants of the once strong Inca people now have to beg and scrounge around from holiday-makers is very sad.
The people are very friendly though. They are so colourful and can smile despite their circumstances. The older women wear bright coloured pleated skirts and shirts, bouler hats and often carry little children in a sling around their backs.
The altitude is a little difficult. Just climbing the steps to the hostel makes me feel like I am about to have a heart attack. The air is very thin.
Haley has left on her 5 day trek. I meet her on thursday when I commence my 3 day trek. We didnt get reservations on the Inca Trail. We were very disapoointed but we are doing an alternative route now which ends up at Macchu Picchu.
Today I am going to look at a few museums and then hopefully buy some art.
Posted by Tanya at May 9, 2005 05:38 PM