After the textile center, we went to lunch at a restaurant called La Cusquenita. It specializes in local food, and we were pleased to see many locals eating there. It’s a place where people go to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and similar events.
Finally some local food, however, the quantities were overwhelming. The salad was interesting, just mint and red onions. The corn just falls off the cob. The potatoes were uninteresting and the pork, well…it was roasted pork.
I could have ordered Cuy, (guinea pig) but decided against it, which is just as well, since it comes fully formed on the plate, head, feet and all.
Despite being few tourists, a dance group entertained the crowd with. number of elaborate regional dances. Each had a story, this one related to carousing.
A drunk character reeled from table to table, trying to kiss the women.
After the dancers did their five or six dances, the came down onto the floor and danced with people in the audience. A very joyful time. It’s hard to stay detached with the enlivening music.
UNext we headed for Saqsayhuaman, a site located above Cusco that has the largest stones the Inkas fit together, bringing them from a quarry about 4 km away.
We arrived near sunset, a perfect time to wander and wonder about the ruins.
Lastly, we visited Kenko, where we went down into the back side to an enormous carved stone which seems to have been used for religious rituals. Hard to get a feeling of sanctity with the crowds, including school groups, but an interesting site.
Tonight it poured, so it’s just as well I did not aim to stroll around the city. Our hotel is on a steep hill, so getting back is a workout. Tomorrow the Center for Textiles in Chincero.