Cusco

There is lots to see in Cusco... the Lonely Planet guidebook notes that however long you've planned to stay in Cusco, it won't be long enough. But Cusco wasn't so much a place of tourism for me, as a place of rest, and a jumping-off point for other destinations.



Here is my childhood friend Martha buying produce in the marketplace. This is a typical market scene... farmers' produce spread out along the street, along with rounds of queso and flour and spice stalls. Peru is sensible in not making women choose between work and home life - in a number of the market stalls, you could see babies tucked in among the produce ;-) Some stalls also had adjacent playpens for larger tots.



And this is what Martha cooked with some of the purchased produce... a puree of many kinds of potatoes, and a ratatouille stew, and some little pickled radishes for garnish.

( Street dancers, street scenes... )

Isla Taquile

On our first day in Puno, mikz and I took the slow boat to Isla Taquile. Slow as in 10km/hr. For 3 hours. Each way.

But it is worth the trip, because Taquile is a beautiful place. Red-roofed village houses dot the green landscape, against the dreamy blue backdrop of Lake Titicaca.



It seems to be a safe place... small children feel free to wander on the hillsides and in the town square.



( Green drinks and high staircases... )