Tourists Again

It has been a treat to be tourists again in Cusco with Mom & Dad in town. Since our return here in February we have held mostly to daily routines that are closer to the local scene and other than being harased by the vendors in the Plaza de Armas have felt more like a resident than a tourist. Not this week..... I even strapped on my camera several times for the occasion!
One of the first days, I played interpreter/guide for a day to Tambomachay, Puka Pukara, Templo de la Luna, Q'enqo and Saqsaywaman - trying to remember any facts from my last visit there last August. Our driver, Marco was great but we left him at the Blanco Cristo and took the steep steps down into the central city.... nearly wipping us all out. Another day while the girls where in school the 4 of us took the audio tour of the massive Catedral (a first for Debby and I as well) with the famous painting of the last supper of cuy and the resting place of the original cross that accompanied Pizarro on his devastating conquest 4 centuries ago. We also toured Qorikancha, the Temple of the Sun, which I have walked past many many times but never entered.
Meghan and Helen skipped school yesterday and went to the Inca Museum with their grandparents, ariving just as Meghan's class fieldtrip was leaving

On evenings that we weren't in our apartment eating quinoa soup and working "the puzzle" we ate well... twice enjoying excelent tapas and pisco sours at Cicciolina, our new favorite eatery. Dad, Helen and I hit the folklore dance show at the Qosco Center one night and it is hard not to take a picture in the Plaza de Armas at night, not matter how times you have already done so.

Mom and Dad head out tomorrow and we all know it will be sad to send them off again for another 4 months or so, but it has been a great visit.