The next day we arrive in Cusco, Peru. Peru is often referred to as the land of the Incas. The Incas called their empire
Tahuantinsuya, meaning "the Four Quarters of the World". The empire was divided into four regions and stretched
for 2,500 miles from what is now northern Ecuador to central Chile. Cusco, at its heart, is the country's most magnificent
city, the Florence of Latin America known for its art and architecture. With a population of 300,000 it is Peru's oldest
continuously inhabited city. Spectacularly cradled by the southeastern Andes mountains, Cusco sits at a daunting 11,000 ft.
Along with its highlights of colonial-era baroque and Renaissance churches, Cusco also serves as a jumping-off point
for trips to the Nazca plain, Machu Picchu and many other Inca and pre-Inca sites.
The Inca considered Cusco the navel of the universe; at the time it was the most developed culture in the
southern hemisphere. That was until the Spanish arrived in 1532. They destroyed the Inca temples replacing them
with their Mediterranean architecture and subjecting the Peruvian people to conditions near slavery. It took less than forty years
from the time of the arrival of the Spanish for the last Inca leader, Tupac Amaru, to fall. The Spanish ruled Peru for 250 years
until Peru declared its independence in 1821. It is now a fairly modern Andean community and home
to the Mestizo (persons with both Indian and Spanish blood) culture of today.
In the heart of the historic center is the Plaza de Armas. In the Inca times it was the exact center of the empire
and the spot where the most important religious and military ceremonies were held. The plaza has two of Cusco's foremost
churches and the remains of original Inca walls, thought to be the foundation of the Inca Pachacutec's palace.
A short but steep walk up the cobblestone hill from the Plaza de Armas is the picturesque neighborhood of San Blas.
Many of the pedestrian-only streets are lined with traditional artists' studios, artisans' workshops and whitewashed adobe homes.
On our way up we meet our 11 year old friend, Kavi, who offers to guide us to the top of the neighborhood where we find some
of the most spectacular panoramic vistas in the city.
Individual homes still look much as they always have, usually consisting of adobe bricks,
dirt floors, and roofs either of clay tile or thatched grass.
Kavi is a bright and friendly Peruvian boy, eagerly developing his English skills at school. According to
law, children are supposed to attend school through the third grade. Many children don't go at all or drop out
after one or two grades, needed for their work at home or sent out to try to earn money. City boys shine shoes,
run errands or try to sell things on the local streets, (although their sales techniques can sometimes be a little too persistent).
Cusco thrives on a vibrant tourist industry and Kavi hopes to one day become a very knowledgeable tourist guide.
We bought Kavi lunch and spent a couple of hours with him seeing the sights of San Blas
and learning about daily life in Peru.
Prev Page Next Page