Cuzco

GRACE ESPERANZA writes: This is my third time in Cuzco and it never feels quite alright. Cuzco is high up in the mountains and many people get altitude sick just because its so high up. Last time I got really sickness and pretty much couldn’t do anything at all. This time I am taking it as slow as possible because for once I want to enjoy my time in Cuzco. Although it doesn’t have perfect weather,(at this time it’s rainy here and cold well compared to Lima but not cold compared to Chicago.) Honestly, I shouldn’t complain because Cuzco is gorgeous. There is so much green and mountains that surround you. I just can’t handle going up the stairs and constantly feeling winded by the time I get to the third floor. Of course it is very touristy with many markets, people constantly asking for you to buy something and you can actually hear people talking English. I think the best part about Cuzco is everyone is there to see the famous Machu Picchu and there are people all over the world. You can turn one way and hear a little bit of protégées then turn the other way and hear someone with a Australian accent. Everyone is from different places yet all there for the same reason, Machu Picchu.

Today we all decided to get massages because it is only 20 soles (8 dollars) for an hour and ten minute sessions. I had got one in Cuzco last time and it was cheap too but odd so I was hoping this one would be better. Five of us decided to get massages from a lady we met at a market by our hotel. She was very inviting and even showed us the place before we decided to go. Right away we made a appointment with her for 8pm. She looked very excited but you could tell she wanted to know for sure if we where really going to come. Sense the place was right by our hotel we saw her through out the day and she would come up and ask “you want to do massage now?” We would laugh and smile and say “we will be at our appointment at 8pm.” Finally it got to be the time. We met up with her and she look relieved and very happy that we actually came. The message ended up being amazing and definitely worth more then 20 soles.