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A
reasonably large city, the centre of the former
Inca capital is a compact mix of attractive Spanish
architecture and sturdy Inca walls. Mountains
enclose the city.
Facilities
Reasonable rooms and rates are plentiful.
The city has lots of internet cafes, restaurants,
bars and clubs - some with a good mix of Peruvians
and travellers.
I'm
craving chocolate cake, ice cream and, after so
long on the road, would love a traditional British
sunday lunch. Any chance of that?
No problemo.
Getting
around
 The
centre is small enough to walk around but the
steep streets and altitude are somebody's idea
of a joke and play merry hell to the unfit. Taxis
are cheap: around 40p until 10pm, 60p after. The
only problem is the streets are very narrow and
the taxi drivers are very stubborn - preferring
to recline their seat and snooze rather than back
up.
Things
to do
The main attraction of Cusco is as a base
for the Machu Picchu trek. Other outdoor activities
include rafting and horse riding in the sacred
valley. Around town bar crawling is popular and
their are plenty of churches and Inca sites to
poke around in.
Expats
and locals
The Peruvians are nuts, love to party and
urinate in public. The expats are nuts, love to
party but are less likely to urinate in public.
Cost
of living
A decent room, two restaurant meals a day
and a couple of beers will leave you with a little
change from a tenner. Two for one drinks are available
at different bars and clubs from noon to midnight.
It's been calculated that after a week you'll
have a pile of club and bar flyers high enough to reach the
moon.
Any
chance of working?
Voluntary work and teaching English are the best
options. Some of the bars and tour operators will
hire gringos. South American Explorers offer a
free lunch or Spanish lessons in exchange for
helping out.
Stay
a while?
If you are still there after four months you're
there for ever.
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