The hype around Cusco

Have you ever been to a place, or even watched a tv show and ended up feeling disappointed because they didn't meet your expectations? Even when they were good, just not "as good" as you expected? (This is true for me of Barcelona, and Breaking Bad respectively).

So I really didn't want to take it on board when everybody said how much they loved Cusco and how great it is. My first trip into the city was good, but unremarkable. On Sunday morning however, I woke up to a huge parade which went on from 8am and lasted all day. It seemed like the whole of Cusco was taking part, every age, man and woman dancing and dressed up in the streets. I still have no idea what the occasion was, but the vibe and sense of community was awesome.

It's a friendly and very quirky place. I have found the most beautiful cafe to drink Cacao which also has a pitch black room with sound healing you can enjoy after. The shop keepers and stall holders are smiley, and not pushy. The amount of llama and alpaca stuff (from clothes made of fur, paintings painted on skin, live ones dressed up in the street and succulent ones on skewers in the restaurant) is tremendous.

And so this is my first experience of Cusco. A town that is so vibrant in colour, personality and offerings. I am delighted to say, that it has not disappointed!

Of course this is just one side of this remarkable place - the tourist shopping and eating side - and tomorrow begins the stuff we came here for.

Just as I did with the city, I want to go in with an open mind, no expectations. Tomorrow is our first meeting with the Andean Priests and we will each receive an individual cacao leaf reading which is their traditional way of tapping into the oracle. The journey has truly begun...

photos: living it up in my Peruvian outfit in the square / locals dancing / cacao & interesting library reading

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