My heart pounded with anticipation as I tiptoed around the hotel room at the crack of dawn and hastily prepared myself for my solo adventure. Slipping out the door with my camera hanging low around my neck, I ventured out into the darkness that is Cusco. My travel buddies, still exhausted from the hike to Machu Picchu, were fast asleep. It was 4:30AM, and I was determined to see the “real” Cusco before our flight to Tumbez at noon.
Exploring a foreign city alone without the aide of any sort of navigational technology is both an anxiety-ridden and exhilarating experience. It took a good 30 minutes for me to relax and stop worrying about getting lost or being kidnapped. Once the jitters left me, I felt completely liberated from the trappings of following orders from Google Maps and the compromises that come with having a companion.
I found beauty in everything as I wandered aimlessly throughout the local street markets of Cusco - from the butcher’s calico cat lazily “guarding” slabs of meat to the souvenir shop owner sneaking in a quick nap in front of his stall before the busy hours of the day ahead.
Click here to read Part I of my Peru trip: “Ten Things I Discovered While Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.”
Click here to read Part II of my Peru trip: “By the Way I ate a Guinea Pig.”
Some photographs taken during my exploration of the San Pedro Market Building and the sprawling street markets in its vicinity:
Some photographs taken near the Main Square the night before I left for the Inca Trail hike:
Very raw, real, beautiful photos. I love the cat!
Thank you so much for sharing, and I can’t wait to see/read more about your adventures!
Smiles and all the best,
Savannah
untetheredasacloud.wordpress.com
Thanks Savannah! The cat picture is one of my favorites too. :)