CHRISTMAS IN CUSCO (Part One)
Once the capitol of the Inca Empire, Cusco is a striking mixture of Inca ruins and Catholic grandeur. Inca built walls line the city's main streets and form the foundations for both colonial and modern structures. At the heart of Cusco is the Plaza de Armas. On the northeast side of the plaza is La Catedral, flanked by the churches of Jesús Maria and El Trifuno, the oldest church in Cusco. On the southeast side is the ornate church of La Compañia, its foundations built on the palace of Huayna Capac, the last Inca to rule an undivided, unconquered empire.Christmas morning my roommate and I wander the main square and surrounding areas taking assorted photos. Some of the architecture is very suitable for black & white. While exploring, we come across an indoor marketplace selling textiles, fruits, and meats, with very inexpensive meals in its quasi food court. On our way back to the Plaza de Armas we encounter one of several pageants celebrating the day. Some tourists seem to feel it is okay to walk backwards in the middle of the processions with their video cameras. I resist the temptation to throw my own camera at them.
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