Inti Raymi

We set off to Cuzco by taxi. We were stopped at one point. The taxi driver had his taxi licence but not his plates (or something). After a few minutes the police let him carry on. I didn't see any cash change hands - but you never know.

Back to the hotel in time to go to Inti Raymi. Whatever that is. We got a very expensive (5 times the normal price) taxi to take us to the bottom of a huge (not as huge as Machu Picchu - but huge enough) hill.

We then, hardy altitude adapted people that we are, walked up said hill to "Sexy-Woman". We joined the throngs of locals (the majority of the tourists were on the other side of the arena in 70 dollar a-pop seats).

We saw some people with Cuzco flags.

Not Brighton Gay Pride

And we same lots more pagentry.

More Pagentry

Where we were standing was so far away (and behind a slight rise in the field) that we couldn't really see anything. Eventually the locals got frustrated by being disenfranchised from their ceremony in favour of the rich tourists that they broke through the line (bit of plastic tape) and ran forward about 50 yards to get a reasonable view.

Trampled underfoot

Another charge of another 50 yards and the police decide to draw the line. By this time, we could pretty much see what was going on. Without much context - it was a little dull.

We wandered back down the hill and to a Gringo haunt (the Crossed Keys) for beer and a burger. The ceremony up the hill was being televised. So we got to see the llama's heart after all.

After bumping into people we had met on the Navimag ferry in Chile, we had a good slug of beer or twelve and retired home slightly woozy.

I woke up this morning with a sore head, which I blamed (unsuccessfully) on the altitude.

It is now 1pm and T is still in bed, relaxing and reading her book. I have been blogging. We must get lunch soon.