After yesterday's long day, I was glad to have a lie in this morning. After breakfast, at around 8:30 am, I sat in the lobby, just watching people coming andamp; going. One of Peru's biggest football teams stayed in the same hotel as us andamp; I talked to a few of the players in the lobby.
Exploring Cuzco.
At around 10 am, most of the group boarded the coach for a tour around Cuzco. Today is a Bank Holiday in Peru & we saw many families enjoying themselves as we passed by on our way to our first stop. Saqsaywaman was an Inca settlement & we got off the bus to look around. Our bus left us & drove to the other end of this site. Whilst this site is undoubtedly imposing, I am somewhat under-impressed after yesterday's visit to Machu Picchu.
We soon moved on to our next stop, a short drive away, Tambomachay. This may have been an Inca spa, but its actual use is unknown. Once again, after yesterday, I am left somewhat unimpressed. After we left this spot, we travelled another short distance to view an underground cave where mummifications were carried out. Sorry, but yesterday's memories eclipse everything we see today.
We returned to the town of Cuzco & saw a religious procession at the Cathedral with people following an idol of the Saint that they remember today. We were dropped off at the hotel, & I headed into town with another member of the tour for lunch. After walking for around 4 miles, we found the main square & had a look around the square & its surrounding buildings. We then visited a tapas restaurant & had a large selection of tapas with a beer before returning to the hotel. It turned out the hotel was only about a mile from where we were & our extended tour to get there wasn't necessary.
Guinea Pig Dinner
This evening, I had company for dinner as 4 of my travelling companions joined me for lunch at a small family-run restaurant opposite the hotel. Three of us decided that as it was our last night in Peru, we would immerse ourselves totally in the Peruvian experience. We enjoy listening to the music provided to entertain us whilst we eat but are not too keen on the flavour of our final Dinner in Peru, Guinea Pig.
It was brought out to us whole on a plate. Its body stretched like it was running at full stretch, its front legs outstretched before it, its hind legs dragging behind it. Its teeth protruding from its mouth & a tomato crash helmet fitted on its head made it look like something from a Wallace & Gromit Cartoon. The staff took photos for us, then took the Guinea Pigs away again to cut them up. It reappeared five minutes later in four pieces, the head balanced on the top with its toothy grin smiling at us. In Peru, Guinea Pigs are farmed for food, but there is so little meat on them that you would need a few for a good sandwich. All I could taste was the Alfalfa that they were fed on. I can say I've eaten Guinea Pig, but I won't be trying it again. It didn't taste like chicken, but it was foul.
After dinner, we returned to the hotel bar for a beer & to say goodbye to the tour group. Tomorrow, we will be heading in different directions, some on to the Amazon whilst others return to England.