Arrival in Cusco

Departing the Amazon, were were bound for the Andes. We touched down in Cusco in the afternoon, checked in to our hotel and immediately gathered all our damp, smelly clothes much in need of washing. With the promise of clean and fresh outfits, we made our way to the nearby G Adventures office to inquire about some day trips.

The plan is to try to whitewater raft tomorrow, ATV tour the next day, Sacred Valley with our tour group, the four days of the Inca trail, and then return to Cusco for a 2 am wake up for Rainbow Mountain. I might die. 

With the bookings done, we checked out the nearby Plaza San Francisco where lots of sweet treats and baking was for sale. 

But before we got there, I saw this lady with a llama and a baby llama in a sling. I immediately lost my sh*t and raced over to hold it. HE WAS WEARING A HAT!!

With my business under control (until the next llama sighting), we followed the road down to the San Francisco market. There were loads of people enjoying carnival games outside and many more crowding the aisles inside.  

Each lane had its own specialty - fruit, cheese, meat, dried goods, grains, etc.

And the outside and first three lanes were full of handicrafts for tourists. Despite the gorgeous sweaters, gloves and hats, only one thing caught my eye. Llama!! His name is Morris. He is so fluffy I might die. 

 

Last stop of the night was Plaza de Armas - the tourist centre of the city. There are two large cathedrals kitty corner to one another, a plaza in the centre and shops and restaurants surrounding. 

Restaurants like KFC and Starbucks. Or restaurantes autenticos for three times the price of the local polleria. So instead, we went to a local polleria! And oh. My. Sweet. Baby. Jesus. That was the greatest chicken EVER! Smoky, gently spiced, juicy and cheap. *drool*

Bellies full and crazy activities booked, it was off to dreamland before it was time to conquer the rapids in the morning. 

P.S. I woke up in the middle of the night realizing that was a lamb in the sling wearing a hat and not a baby llama. Betrayal of the highest order!