San Blas Square
Brenda woke up at 6am and I was up an hour later, so we could enjoy the last group breakfast with everybody. The next morning, a lot of folks were heading out…so we weren’t sure we’d be seeing them again. At breakfast, we all talked about activities for the day. Brenda, Lawrence, Alex, Fiona, and decided to take a rest day while the others were going rafting down the Urubumba.
After breakfast, Brenda and I stopped off at an internet cafe to find a company who would take us mountain biking the following day. We located a place, called Reserv Cusco near the Plaza De Armas and walked over there.
Manager Arturo Medina met us and went over a potential itinerary which was in line with our expectations and ability. We explained we were looking for something moderate with nice views and nothing too strenuous. He claimed to have just the right thing for us and was very excited to give us the details. We gave him a small deposit and agreed to come back at 9am the next morning.
We then headed down to the local grocery store to see what they had. Whenever I go to another country, I like to go to the grocery store. It’s interesting to see what normal folks buy to eat. I ended up buying Quinoa, lime flavored Mayonaise sauce, candies, and beer. I was excited to bring it all home.
We met up with Fiona, Lawrence, and Alex, for lunch at a really nice cafe Marcelo Batata Restaurant just behind the Cathedral in the Plaza De Armas. I had the Alpaca Saltado and rice. It was a huge portion, but very delicious. Brenda had shrimp and avocado starter (this looked delicious!) with stuffed potato skins. Lawrence had a burger and Alex had the Aji and Chicken rice. Lunch was very enjoyable and relaxing.
Santo Domingo
After lunch, we decided a trip to the craft market on the Avenue Del Sol was a nice way to pass the time. We all walked down there, which consisted of a couple of miles of slightly downhill walking.
Fiona is first rate at bartering in the market. She really knows how to play the game; she is adept and skilled, with intuition and negotiating skills all combined! I watched her in action, noting what made her so successful and then went out on my own to try my luck.
The Fountain Outside the Craft Market
I scored 3 pairs of earrings, a cute pair of leather sandals, an alpaca blanket for Dennis, and a red alpaca shawl for a very reasonable price. I feel a little guilty to share how little I paid, but the vendors were still happy when I walked away, so I’m sure it was a win-win! If you want high quality leather and wool, for a bargain, go to Peru!
After the market, Brenda and I had a massage scheduled. It was amazing. We got a “four hands” massage, which meant that at any particular time, we had 2 people working on each of us. I’ve never had that done before, but it was wonderful. It was a little distracting at first because I’m not used to having two separate areas massaged at the same time. Once I got used to it, and fully relaxed, it was wonderful.
We had dinner reservations for 7:30pm, so after the massage, we all mingled and shared stories about the days events.
Alastair shared rafting video from their adventure in the Urubumba. Thankfully, nobody fell in, that water looks totally muddy and filthy. The guys had a ton of fun rafting, so it was fun to hear about it.
We told them about the markets and bartering. One of them yawned…I guess getting a good deal doesn’t have the same adrenaline pumping feeling as rival white water! Or at least to those guys. They didn’t realize how Fiona turned it into a sport!
We all tried Cuy for the first time.
Dinner was at the local India restaurant. We were all going to try Cuy (Guinea Pig), cooked in the Tandoori, for the first time. I was a little nervous and excited. I ordered veggie samosas with beans and rice. I tried to order a sweet lassi, but the waiter didn’t know what it was so I had to explain. He disappeared into the kitchen and came back with one and I was relieved. I knew I would need a Lassi to wash down the Cuy, if I didn’t like it!
Sure enough, when the Cuy came out I was dubious. The feet were still on and they were curled up as if the thing died in pain. I took a couple bites into the earthy, oily meat, but then I had to stop. It was just a bit too much drama looking at that foot and imagining the horrendous end of it’s little life.
Artwork in our Hotel Room
Back at the hotel, I slipped into my jammies and thought about the following day. Our last full day in Cusco would be spent mountain biking. Woo-hoo!
Tags: Avenue Del Sol, Craft Market, Cusco, Marcelo Batata, Peru, Reserv Cusco, Rest Day, Shopping