Relaxing in Cusco

Tuesday, September 27

It's a rare treat not to be up at dawn. There is nothing on the schedule today, but Manuel, always eager for us to get the most of our travels, has offered to take us to see the views from Sacsayhuaman, the Inca ruin that towers over Cusco.(generally pronounced "sexy woman", everyone remembers the name of this site). We take a bus up the hill and stop to shop at Grupo Esmeralda. It's one of the more expensive tourist outlets specializing in alpaca products and jewellery. Between us we drop quite a few soles. Peter and I buy a small painting from the artist working in store because I like the strength of the design and it will remind us of the vibrant colours of Peru. We are a pretty listless bunch this afternoon but we enjoy the relaxed outing and wander back down into town and go our separate ways to sightsee or sleep.

Tonight will be our last supper together as a group. Six of us are going on to the jungle and others each have different agendas. Manuel has been looking forward to showing his chosen restaurant, the Fallen Angel. However, this is not to be. During the afternoon, Cindy is involved in an accident with a cab and is taken to the local hospital for xrays. Fortunately there are no broken bones but there is plenty of paper work and police reports to deal with. So Manuel has to make sure all that is taken care of properly. The rest of us have our last dinner in the restaurant with crazy angels' and demons' decor. Our table is an old fashioned bathtub with a glass top, filled with water and gold fish.