Festival day is Cusco

Collected a September calendar from Tourist Information office in Cusco - lists all the festivals for the month- and discovered that there was a festival in Cusco Saturday for World Tourism Day. Then we discovered that Milka was participating in the parade with her Tourism school. Awesome ... and so that we didn't miss a good vantage spot, we started reasonably early with breakfast at Jack's ... anyone who's been to Cusco will know about Jacks... and luck was on our side and we didn't have to queue at the door.

Got a good vantage spot around 11am - people at the tourist office thought the parade started at 10am ... Milka was told to be there around 1pm... so we weren't taking any chances. It was the hottest day yet in SA... and we were in full sun, on the top of the stand in the plaza... awesome.

People watching was very interesting .... lots of hat sellers (yes we bought more hats), ice blocks, drinks, food as well as the usual tourist items.

Around 11.30 the first of the groups entered the plaza. Apparently they had assembled and marched from a long way up the hill through several other plazas before reaching Plaza de Aramas. The whole parade was very colourful and at times quite loud. A fantastic spectacle as various groups danced their way through the streets. Zac joined us and got frequent updates from Milka ... we're about 30 mins away ... Not quite. About 4pm, Milka's school group entered the plaza ... they were awesome. Two groups dresses in either orange or green predominately led the group and danced back and forth in front of us, then another group in assorted costumes representing various cultural groups and areas carried colourful strips of material representing the Cusco flag. Milka was dressed in a costume from the jungle where she was born. Lucky it was a warm day ... but I'm sure many others sweltered in teir thick, dark, multi;lyered costumes.

BTW ... today I am taking a bus with Milk ... we're going to Lima for a few days. I also have a Spanish dictionary with me ... as Lex is staying here with Zac. Should be fun. Jeff and Jill got an early start this morning - they have hired a car and are taking a road trip to visit some alpaca places. Another adventure...