Happy Father's Day

By Walter Coraza Morveli (translated by David Knowlton with photos by Hebert Edgardo Huamani Jara)

In this month of celebrations, Cuzco’s attention turns today to its fathers and international Father’s Day. Considered heads of families, and an example for society, nevertheless the celebrations for father’s day pale in comparison with those for Mother’s Day or the other feasts of Cuzco despite the ideal importance of fathers as indefatigable fighters for their families. Read the rest of this entry

An Ukuku Allegorical Figure

Text by David Knowlton and photographs by Walter Coraza Morveli

Another day, and the sun breaks through Cuzco’s murky air. Once again, the fountain in the center of the majestic plaza is surrounded by a screen of white cloth as faux rock is laid around it to make a platform for the statue of the Inca that last year made his controversial appearance during these festivities. Young women and men fill the plaza practicing for the big even, the Inti Raymi pageant, the 24th. In the meantime, at ten am giant images are expected to begin rounding the plaza. Read the rest of this entry

San Antonio on the Octave of Corpus Christi

By David Knowlton

Once again, yesterday, the plaza filled with Cuzqueños and some tourists as the saints, one by one, slowly began to take their exit from seven days within the cathedral. The images seemed to dip in greeting and goodbye to the people gathered for another year. Now the feasting moves from the plaza to Cuzco’s neighborhoods. Read the rest of this entry

Beer Vapor Cleaning the Air

By David Knowlton

When the sun crosses the horizon and enters the valley of Cuzco these mornings, it competes with a brown mass of chilly air. As its population grows, Cuzco’s winter air is increasingly dirty. But people here, besides sneezing in the morning, have other ideas. They say that the plume of steam the local brewery lets off cleans the air of the upper, colonial and Inca part of town. Read the rest of this entry

Greeting the Judges

Cuzco continues to celebrate with a contest where its various institutions compete to best show off Cusco’s rich culture through its traditional dances. Today, the multi-day show begins with small children from the city`s kindergartens. They dance around the PLaza de Armas in a salute to their city by performing its typical dances. Read the rest of this entry

Sabila

By Hebert Edgardo Huamani Jara (translated by David Knowlton)

The earth is our mother and as such she gives us natural remedies. For many people in Cuzco, despite the existence of good doctors and hospitals, these continue to be important in our lives to cure the various illnesses that are found among us. One of these medicinal plants is aloe vera. Read the rest of this entry

Drinking Coconut Milk

By Walter Coraza Morveli (translated by David Knowlton)

“Coconut, coconut.,” The Vendors shout out. “Sugar cane. Pomegranate. Buy some casero. Take some home with you. I will give you some extra.” These are the voices that follow you as you snake through the aisles among piles of fresh fruit and sugar cane. This week there was a fruit festival outside the market and it will return next Thursday for the octava, the eighth day, of Corpus Christi. Read the rest of this entry

Negrillo

By Brayan Coraza Morveli (translated by David Knowlton)

Dance is a vital cultural expression in today’s Cuzco and there is almost no celebration without dancers.  This is especially true of the patronal feasts with high religious character, as well as of those of the production cycle.  Dancing is also found in  carnival, anniversaries and private celebrations. Read the rest of this entry

Chiriuchu

Chiriuchu, Cuzco’s festive dish, is like a world on a plate.  It works for festivities because it brings everything together, in the small portions of different ingredients of different types and from different regions. Read the rest of this entry

La Mamacha en Corpus

The entrance of the saints and their entourage was a splendid combination of sound, color, and movement yesterday.  This event always fascinates and in each image is a depth of history at the same time each reflects the present.  In what follows, as a light rain fall on the mass initiating the majestic procession of Corpus Christi around the Plaza de Armas we provide a photographic essay of yesterday’s entrance of the fifteen saints taken by Walter Coraza Morveli and Hebert Edgardo Huamani Jara.  We did not include photos of the dancers since tomorrow we will be posting an article on dance in Corpus.

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