Today we headed off the the railway station to check up on our tickets for Mondays 10 hour journey to Puno. We wanted to confirm that they are in fact forward facing as 10 hours facing the wrong way would not be good! Not only was it quite a walk (luckily downhill), it was not that easy to find the entrance mainly because it was behind two massive closed metal doors. Anyway after some of my excellent ‘Spanglish’ we were let in and after a further hour or so queuing we discovered we are in fact forward facing although separated by the walk way - could be a good thing!!
Next we walked slowly back up the hill to the San Francisco Plaza and had a fascinating tour around the friary and then down under the church into an ossary... different to say the least. On our way back to our hotel for a brief respite we came across a festival complete with dancers, bands and floats. Apparently this is to promote and celebrate tourism to Cusco and the surrounding towns and villages. I was in my element taking photos and even managed to squeeze a press story out of it (took some time to to load on the internet though). It was here that the lady in my photo came to sit next to Colin. Although she normally would ask for money I think she was just resting but when I came back from photographing the parade I asked if I could photograph her and got a great shot of her and Colin and then she let me hold the lamb. It could have only been a few days old. It was perfectly happy and well fed despite having to wear a crocheted bonnet!!
Later in the afternoon we left all bags and valuables behind at our hotel and headed to the San Pedro market. We had been warned that it was a hotspot for theft and robbery but it seemed quite quiet as we went later in the afternoon. There were some great shots to be had and the food looked a mix of delicious and awful. We didn’t risk trying any though.
I had a real job deciding which photo to use for today and it was a choice between some swirling dancers and the lady and the lamb. It was not contest in the end - the lamb in a bonnet pipped it!!
If anyone is on Facebook I have posted an album of general Cusco images, one from San Pedro market and and article about the festival of tourism in Plaza Armas.
A wonderful portrait of both lamb and lady Emma, a fav for me. Your account of what you and Colin have been doing is also fascinating to read. Hope that ten-hour journey is bearable and that you get a break or three!
September 29th, 2015
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