Day 52. Cusco. 9.3.25

Today we are having another leisure day, allowing us to spend time wandering the streets and look at anything we may have missed as tomorrow we start the long, complicated journey home.

Mark has woken up feeling a bit 'snotty' but I'm feeling pretty good now.

A teeny, tiny coffee with breakfast. Couldn't finish it, my taste buds aren't the working the best.

We are heading off on another waddle into town to another art museum.  Chimu Adventures, the company who are looking after us in South America, bought a block of tickets to different experiences in the area. We used a few with them and yesterdays museums were also included as is todays. 

Well we went to plan b today. We walked down the hill to the town square and every 4th person was offering to sell us a poncho. No rain about, we thought it was a bit strange. When we got to the town square we realised why. 🎉 There was a big, colourful parade on 🎉 The costumes were beautiful.  The crowds were throwing water balloons🎈🎈in all directions. They were also spraying foam at anyone and everyone. Such frivolity! Everyone was laughing. Some of the dancers were spraying foam back and some threw little bags of corn, of which I managed to catch one.

Mark did some google research and discovered that it's called the Cusco Carnival. 'It's a cultural expression that involves the entire community.  It's characterised by a game with water & talcum powder and symbolises purification and rebirth'

'Today is the central day where public and private institutions gather to present an impressive cultural display.'

The colours are so vibrant. 

                  The kids were having a ball.

                                The fight back.

After an hour or so we thought we'd take a tour around the block and try and find the museum. Instead we ran into a lot more groups waiting their turn. We also found another 100+ people wanting to sell us a poncho or a can of foam. 🤦‍♀️

We went to the building that google told us to go to and there was a museum sign on the wall but the guard inside said we were in the wrong place 🤦‍♀️ So we took a big detour around the frivolities and headed back to the hotel as we were both wearing out.

                                   Court house.

Bit of resting, blogging and resting before we went for another wander looking for lunch at 2.30 and discovered a vegan bakery next door, so we had a mushroom empanada 🥟 and shared a chocolate truffle ball.

We had another delicious dinner at the hotel. Every night while at dinner the house maids turn the bed back and pop a hot water bottle in our bed. They leave us a little dark chocolate and a fancy tea bag. 

I don't know how I'll manage when we get home on Thursday. We have been totally spoilt for the whole trip.

Todays temperature range was 8-16°, with a light showers. We've walked ~4 kms.