Day 2 - Cusco

Itinerary

Sleep In & Rest. Breakfast @ 9:00 AM, Group Introductions & Trip Orientation, Lunch in Hotel @ 1:00 PM, Walking Tour of Cusco after Lunch @ 2:30-4:30 PM, Dinner in town at Cicciolina @ 7:00 PM

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Day 2 Trip Journal

Our first full day in Cusco! We are awaiting the arrival of Alice and Sally, and praying for Renee’s recovery. Breakfast was a feast for the eyes and the belly. Local fruits, corn con queso, tamales, pastries and delicious coffee. It is something rare and special to have breakfast with a table full of friends on a Monday morning. After healthy juice shots we hit the streets of Cusco to experience firsthand the June celebrations leading up to the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in Cusco. This is the most important holiday locally and the celebrations last all month. We saw people of all ages dressed in traditional clothing and costumes dancing, singing, performing and spectating. The square was full of vendors selling fruit, popsicles, corn and nuts, jewelry, and Alpaca wool. It was hard to resist paying to take a picture with a baby Alpaca. We exchanged money, spent money and headed back for lunch at the hotel where we met up with Alice, Sally and a recovering Renee.

Lunch was followed by a local walking tour of Cusco. Our guide, Sol, shared so much about the history of Cusco (Qosqo), the people’s relationship with their Spanish assimilators, and the Catholic Church. It was a reminder of how complex the dynamics of power and religion have been for hundreds of years.

We were lucky to come back to rest before gathering our entire group together before dinner. Renee lead up through a spiritual practice that opened up so many opportunities to know each others story and the ways that we are arriving here in Peru. For me personally, the vulnerability, authenticity and truth of others is such a gift from the Lord. To known and be known by other women on this trip is truly a gift!