Inti Raymi in Cusco
Although we have well and truly left Cusco, Peru and South America, we felt it was an injustice to write only one quick post on the city, so here goes another.
We stayed in Cusco for just over a week and a half, and although ill for part of it, we enjoyed it immensely, the place has a unique buzz and is a well deserved UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is fair to say that it has knocked Buenos Aires into second place on our favourite retreat in South America.
While there we were lucky enough to experience the Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun. Before the colonial Spaniards banned the ceremonial events occurring each Winter Solstice in Cusco, the native residents gathered to honour the Sun God, sacrifice an animal to ensure good crops and to pay homage to the Inca, as the first born Son of the Sun. Today, it’s the second largest festival in South America. Hundreds of thousands of people converge on Cusco from other parts of the nation, South America and the world for a week long celebration marking the beginning of a new year.
What an amazing festival, it puts our 1.5hr Easter parade to shame – these people certainly know how to celebrate in style. We really enjoyed our time here and so help us God we will return again one day.
