News from Cuzco

Cuzco has been quite the adventure needless to say. Its hard to describe a town so incredible. It has such a personality even down to the last ¨colorado¨that passes. The streets are steep and give way to a slice of sidewalk that oblviously was not an original design. I pass through San Blas almost everyday putting out my ¨parche¨or display of artisan jewlery alongside many of the other atisans that I have been priveledged to know. Each one has such a unique persona and it seems to always be reflected within the details of their work. Cuzco is a powerful place because many of the people have such faith in it being so. There are certainly two sides. One is that it is the tourist capital of Peru mainly due to the fact that Machu Piccu is so close. It has been quite comercialized and there is always an onslaught of people selling everything imaginable. Mamitas and their children lead llamas and alpacas up and down the streets covering for the photos that the people take. There are temples that lead throughout the surrounding mountains which end in views that will take your breath away. It is certainly cold and at times I feel that I will never get warm. The locals have a strong personality and are firmly a conservative people. I assume that I will stay for another week or so heading towards the jungle and on to Chile.