welcome to the world of Cusco
- You will get sunburnt despite a grey, cloudy sky and loads of sunscreen. Still: always, always put on sunscreen.
- Always, always bring your raincoat, even if there’s not a cloud in the sky. You’ll get rained on at some point, trust me (I got so used to carrying it around with me, I wore it even during the dry season).
- Taxis slow down at a pedestrian crossing not to let you cross, but to see if you need a ride (and thus block your way, making you wait even longer…).
- If you participate in a climate demonstration, it is not unusual that at the same time a huge procession in honour of a university’s birthday and a concert take place on the same square. And nobody will care if they disturb the others.
- Beware: you might find a «pata de cuy» (guinea pig paw) in the bag of pecans you just bought at the market. Sign of the market lady having enjoyed her meal…
- Or you’ll be looking forward to a nice coffee at one of your favourite cafés, only to find that it’s disappeared and they’re taking off the doors of the place (it might reappear in another spot a few weeks later).
- Another classic: getting almost run over almost every day and at some point finding that almost normal.
- Offers for massages or selfies with a baby lama will occur daily (please, please do not accept the latter – maybe I’ll talk about that problematic in another post).
- Always carry some coins in your pocket – for the bus, for someone in need or for the «tamales» lady standing at the corner. «Sencillo» (change, as in coins) is an essential.
- I’m sorry to tell you: you will definitely get sick. 4 times in half a year is not a record – weather or altitude change, parasites and bad food are your enemies. Just hope you’ll be spared of the constant company of “parasite friends”.
- You will also spend endless hours at «migraciones», waiting to get your papers done – only to have to return at the end of your stay to give back those same hard-earned papers.
- Constantly celebrating something or other means not a lot of school. Especially in June, the big festivity month, days off are almost more common than school days.
- If you’re an English speaker, you will probably get offers to teach English. And speaking of language lessons, Cusco definitely does not lack Spanish schools. Just make sure you also talk to the locals and not only to fellow «gringos» to further improve your skills.
- And who knows, you might learn another new language by chance – Quechua for example :).
- Last, but not least: te enamorarás de la ciudad y de su gente – you will fall in love with the city and its people.
You will get attached, believe me – make sure you bring a big package of tissues for when you leave…