The Great Highway From Cuzco to Antisuyo (Photo: Wayra)

By Fernando Delgado Aguirre (translation by David Knowlton)

Cuzco recently celebrated the nomination of the Qhapaq Ñan, the Royal Inca Highway, for the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ceremonies took place on the esplanade by the Qoricancha, Cuzco’s ancient Temple of the Sun. Peru’s Minister of Culture was in charge of the ceremony and was accompanied by his peers from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador all of whose countries hold portions of this amazing pre-Columbian road system.

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Dressed as an Inca for Tupac Amaru Today (Photo: Alonzo Riley)

By David Knowlton

In the Main Square of Cuzco, two-hundred twenty years ago, Túpac Amaru II was killed in a bloody show intended to consolidate Spanish and elite control for generations. This morning, University and Municipal authorities participated in a rite to remember his death and claim his heritage on the same square where he died. Read the rest of this entry

Wheat Bursting From Stone

People often go to the mountainside to catch a breath from their daily life. The mountain can bring a needed sense of smallness. It can make the problems of life be seen as temporary compared to the rock that lasts so long. The rock’s breath takes years. The human’s breath lasts only seconds. But they are not so different when they come together.

The mountain can also just be a great place to have fun.

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Lomo Saltado at a Popular Eatery in Lima

By David Knowlton

Perhaps the most well known Peruvian dish, lomo saltado is both codified and constantly being recreated these days. Like so much else it is undergoing reinterpretation and redefinition. At the same time discussions take place about what its essence is so that its tradition can be maintained. Read the rest of this entry

Foreigner Walking down Cuzco Streets

By Fernando Delgado Aguirre (translation by Walter Coraza Morveli and David Knowlton)

From the Cuzco of before to the Cuzco of today is a journey between the known and the lost. Only in vain could we hope that times past would become todays. Nonetheless, in spite of everything there are places that take us into the past without having to find a time machine. Read the rest of this entry

Mother Caring for Her Son

By David Knowlton, with the help of Walter, Brayan, and Arnold, the Cuzco Eats team

Mothers will be celebrated throughout Cuzco today as Peru celebrates Mother’s Day. In honor of Cuzco’s women, and not just mothers, we wanted to give some distinctive details of life in the Imperial city of Cuzco. Read the rest of this entry

Q’ero Used in Important Ceremonies

By Fidelus Coraza Morveli (translation by Walter Coraza Morveli and David Knowlton)

The beautiful q’eros have a long history of importance in Cuzco. Q’ero means wood. They were wooden cups that the natives and the mestizos always made in pairs. As a result, the couple of glasses together represented Andean duality. They cups came in two forms, one was utilitarian and the other ceremonial. The latter were better worked and had decorative designs enclosing a message about agriculture, herding, history, the religious customs, or other meanings.  Read the rest of this entry

Laughing in a Feast

By David Knowlton

In Cuzco you often hear the sounds of a fiesta, whether a grand social event that embraces the entire population or the smaller gatherings and celebrations of families and friends. Like public rituals most everywhere, these do many things. Ritual Studies goes into those in depth, but in Cuzco one thing more than any other keeps popping out at me whenever I go to one or when I hear people talk about them Read the rest of this entry

Tourists and Wachuma in the Market

By Fernando Delgado Aguirre (translated by David Knowlton)

April is the month of the earth and all the planet take a pause in their daily lives to salute the earth. In the Andes we know her as the Mama Pacha, the Mother Earth. And, from this space we take a pause to speak of the Andean world view and of the Apu Wachuma, the Lord Wachuma based on the recent presentation by Lic. Victor Estrada Cervantes* in the Municipal LIbrary of Cuzco as part of the Martes Culturales, or Cultural Tuesdays, held every week at seven pm. Read the rest of this entry

Shhh, Respect the Jungle

Today is international Earth Day, established forty three years ago to recognize the importance of our common planet and our environment. In Cuzco it is more. It is the day of the Pachamama, the Mother Earth.

Simply adding that other tittle changes the day and gives it added meaning. The Pachamama has a long history in Peru, going back well before the Spanish, even if the current idea is blended with ideas from Europe. It is a day to celebrate a person who is greater than us, loves us, and who we also must be good to. Read the rest of this entry