Market Day

 Pisac, just 20 miles from Peru’s tourist hub of Cusco is itself a place that attracts visitors and I can see why. It’s clean and pretty the locals are friendly and outgoing and they have a little of what you fancy, places to eat and shop and on Sunday the villagers come down from the mountains to sell fresh fruits and vegetables. Winter weather is warm and sunny, it’s so arid there are no mosquitoes and life is affordable. Plus the colors are bright and there are no soldiers patrolling the streets. 

And For the first time ever we left Rusty outside the van when we went into town. Usually we secure him inside on his bed but he wanted to stay outside so we obliged him. He was delighted to see us when we got back but he did fine.  The grass is thick and the sun is warm, no wonder he likes it here.

Waiting for our tuk tuk into town.  

The Urubamba River. 

Every day is market day in Pisac. 

On Sunday the villagers come down from the hills to add their produce to the craft stores which are a permanent feature of Pisac. 

The orange stuff is oca, an Andean potato. I like it but Layne is more discriminating and doesn’t. 

It tastes like potato; what’s not to like? 

Imagine hauling that sack and your shopping back home up thousands of feet. These people are tough. 

The best broccoli we’ve seen in a while. It smelled delicious  raw and I only like it cooked. 

Inti is the word for sun god and patron of Inca culture. It’s actually a bit more complicated than that as the Inca worshipped the sun as a cluster of suns according to the seasons but for our crude gringo purposes Inti is the sun god. 

Lots of gringos come shopping here. We all pretend not to notice each other so I stare brazenly as we pass each absorbed in our unique adventure and posted on Facebook. 

I left my Jewish wife to buy halvah and hummus from Avraim a young Israeli looking for peace far from the conscription offices in Israel and I wandered into my ancient Catholic roots. 

An angry cop came running up as I walked out accusing me of unlocking the door! He soon  realized what a dolt he was being and rushed past me to hustle everyone out of the place of worship on a Sunday afternoon. Such is the style of the Catholic church the Protestants are making converts all over South America. For example the church in Arequipa was only open between five and six in the evening another example of not being available while the church museum attached to the cathedral was open all day to take your money.

While Layne was shopping I was chatting  with the locals. 

She then punished me by making me hold an alpaca. 

I’m the one on the right enjoying the experience. The photographer was laughing. Then we bought some van sized art. 

Everyone is out to make a buck in Pisac, and all will align your chakras and empower you and render you supple and desirable. Go for it, there are lots of choices and all in English  for that authentic touch. 

Personally I prefer textiles and Inca produce but Pisac has something for everyone.

Shopping done I need a nap.