Stories from the field
- From Danielle WeissJournal Entry #4: Fiestas of Cuzco and Inti Raymi
For those of you who know what it's like to live in a small town, or even a big city that has been marked a "tourist destination", you will feel my pain. I not only live in a tourist destination but in the "tourism mecca" of Peru! Cuzco at any time of the year has a pretty good ratio of locals to tourists which keeps things interesting, but come June...high season begins and semi-organized chaos erupts.
When I lived in Toronto, I lived in "the Beach" which was famous for its 3-day Jazz Fest every July. The streets were shut down and they got the party started. This was great if you were a tourist, even a local but made your evening escapades a tad frustrating as you tried to weave yourself through thousands of people in an attempt to get to your final destination on time. The same goes for Cuzco in June except that it lasts for 30 days! Man these Peruvians know how to party! June is when thousands of people ascend upon the main square to eat local delicacies at makeshift food stalls while watching endless parades, dances and processions. The pictures speak for themselves.
At the end of June, all of this culminates into the biggest event of all - the world famous Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun) which is the reenactment of a religious ceremony of the Inca Empire where they sacrifice a lama in honor of the Sun God (Inti). It takes place every year on June 24th at Sacsaywaman, the ruins over looking the city and attracts thousands of tourists, visitors and Gap Adventures travellers alike.Most Sundays I hike 30 minutes along a road that takes me from my house to the entrance of Sacsaywaman, one of the most amazing Inca sites that surrounds Cuzco. Because prices have risen exponentially over the years and because I am cheap, I refuse to pay the outrageous entrance fee they are now charging, especially when I can see it perfectly well from my special rock on the hill exactly adjacent to the ruins. Here I sit in my attempt to meditate which never seems to last more than a few minutes so mostly I just sit and enjoy the surroundings as I watch from above. Experiencing views of Sacsaywaman this way is incredibly different than the experience you get at Inti Raymi, but both are equally spectacular.
Read More Stories from the Field
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Loy Krathong - An Experience to Remember in Thailand
New Finished Stoves!
Special Report - An Intern's Experience in Ccaccaccollo, Peru
Being There: Director's Take on the Brazil Favelas
Stove-building Field Trip
An Experience Beyond Words
Fiestas of Cuzco and Inti Raymi
Speaking with the Spirits of the Mountains
Me & My 32 Closest Friends
Coo Coo for Cuzco
