Cusco

So being in Cusco right now is crazy because of the festival. Everyday theres parades going on in the street and people in crazycostumes and the streets are packed and people are selling food , I want to say its like the fringe, but 10 times bigger. When I first got here I was still recovering so that ment a lot of staying in the Hostel and watching TV, which was lame. My hostel is freezing because its basically a courtyard, so you have to go outside to reach all the different rooms. And at such a high altitude, its not very warm outside.

I finally went to explore Cusco but Ive decided that Im all ´museumed´out. It seems that they all have the same stuff. So from now on Im only going to ones that have a different subject matter than ´the history of peru´. I finally ate after 3 days of not and I ordered ravioli, cuz the picture looked good, but we´re in Peru, so their Italian is not the best and I couldnt eat it all anyways cuz my stomach shrunk. So basically Im at one meal a day right now.
Yesturday I went on a tour of ´The Sacred Valley´ which is basically three different towns which have old Inca cities by them. The first two were huge, and so pretty, but of course, I was really cold. I got some nice pictures though. Then we had this buffet for lunchwhich was really gross I must say. They had some odd choices for food and by ´buffet´I mean they just hand you a plate with everything on it, so i picked through that. By the time we reached the last sight it was really dark and you could barely see anything, but the only thing there was to see was a church. I wondered outloud why we even bothered coming here at all, quite a few people agreed with me.

Once I got home there was this massive partyt on the streets. Everyone was drinking and eating, there were bands and dancers and firecrackers. It was crazy. Of course in all of this madness I had to find a bank, withdraw 300 USD, find my tour agency and pay them for the rest of the Inca trail It wasnt easy let me tell you, and walking around withall that money freaked me out, but I made it. Im getting picked up on Monday at 430 AM! YES!

Today there was the actual closing of the Festival called INTI RAYMI. Everyone goes up to one of the ruins just outside of town called Sacsaywaman (Not to be confused with Sexy Womanas my guide warned) and they re-enacct this ancient Solstice ritual. But firt I went to the main square and watched them there. They had the band enter the square, and then the warriors, and then the dancers, and then the GOLDEN INCA, which is really just a man dressed up as an Incan King. There was lots of music and dancing and then some speeches. It was so crowded and a little hard to see (being so TALL and all) but it lasted about an hour. And then the crowd followed them all up to Sacsaywaman. I had lunch first cuz I didnt really feel like going up and waiting for two hours for the Inti Raymi to start. Walked up a bit later and I had been warned that I wouldnt actually see any of the ritual because there would be so many people there. But I managed to find a little place to watch from (although my view was quite limited) The walk up was a bit brutal, lots of stairs and basically straight up for 45 minutes, but there were lots of vendors along they way. Ive learned not to let them catch you looking at their wares, otherwise they will just not leave you alone! I am now the proud owner of a friendship bracelet and this weird wooden pear with the history of the Incas carved into it. Lucky Me! Theres also so much cultural ponography here. Like women will walk up to you with their babies in their arms in Traditional Costumes and say ´take my picture for money?´ ITs horrible.

Anyways, the ritual was kinda slow and there was lots of talking which (of course) I didnt understand so...After an hour I kinda lost interest and then it started to rain so I took that as a sign that it was time to leave. Tommorow Im going on a full day Rafting trip. It should be harder than the one in Arequipa so Im excited, espeially now that im such a ´seasoned´rafter:). Anyways, on MOnday I leave for the Inca Trail as I said before and I´ll bbe gone for 4 days, and of course, out of touch. Ill post again when I get back. Wish me Luck!