We will be pretty much staying near the hotel today but for a couple of shopping excursions before we check out and move to the Torre Dorado Hotel tonight.
This morning we had a tour of our hotel with our guide Juan Carlos. Here he is showing us a upright lazy Susan which was used by the cloistered nuns to pass items to the "outside world". They were not allowed to have contact with anyone outside the convent. When they needed something or were sending items they made out they would revolve this device around. Conversely they could easily retrieve items from the outside. The area where Juan Carlos is standing is the first courtyard inside the convent. The other side is now the lobby of the hotel.
Just inside the courtyard you can see original Spanish frescoes on the wall.
Closeup of the frescoes.
One of the courtyards.
Closeup of the frescoes.
One of the courtyards.
Inside a small chapel dedicated to Señor del Huanuco. Later in the day we say a procession of people carrying Señor del Huanuco through the streets. Pretty timely.
Several of us went out on excursions. The majority were going to try and find a woman's textile co-op while Luis and I went looking for the ice cream shop. Found it!
Although we had just commented that we never wanted to eat again we weakened. Luis had a strawberry and caramel cone while I had a local coca (chocolate) cone. The ice cream was more like gelato and delicious!
We continued walking around for a bit and eventually got to where street repairs had found Inca structures buried under the new street. There has been much discussion about wether the ruins should be excavated or not. This street is right off the Plaza de Armas and any lengthy excavations would cause enormous problems. Imagine digging up at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Randolph street for those of you who know Chicago. The decision has been made to rebury the ruins. Many believe that there must me many more ruins buried all over Cusco. Right now archeologists are present taking images and measurements before they are reburied. So for our guide from yesterday Liz, here are some images.
Big lunch this afternoon at 2:30 at the pool. Repacking before a second shopping adventure to a local market after lunch. Then transfer to our new hotel at either 4:00 or 6:30. I suppose depending on who goes shopping and how well we can repack! It's 1:15 now and I am heading for the pool. Heated - around 84 degrees. And then you get out!!!!! It was pretty cool and then then it started to rain. By the time we were ready for lunch the rain stopped and we were able to eat near the pool.
After we checked out of the hotel we took a walk towards a traditional market. When we got the edge of Plaza de Armas we saw this procession. The people were carrying Señor del Huanuco on a platform. The procession was led by black faced men in front and a band playing behind. Awesome to see.
These guys were leading the procession.
This requires quite the effort. Look at the strain on the faces of these guys at the front of the platform.
We have arrived at our new hotel for a night in a residential neighborhood of Cusco. The Torre Dorado Hotel where we have all five rooms on the second floor. There is a common area with five rooms around it. We say it is the Rediker Travel Club dorm......
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