Full Contact Driving

The Peruvians abide by the policy of right-of-way being awarded to that which will inflict the most damage. Cyclists will not slow for pedestrians. Cars will not slow for cyclists. And Buses reign king of the roads. The roads of Peru are uneven, rocky, cracked and ridden with potholes. Clearly, the only practical way to operate a motor vehicle over this unrelenting landscape is to drive as fast as possible. Any attempt to avoid these hazards, apply brakes or decrease speed would be deemed as admitting defeat to condition of the road. That is clearly unacceptable. The poor conditions of the road is only a figment of tourists imagination and deserves no endorsement of Peruvian drivers. This policy holds no exceptions. Even in the maze like streets of Cusco, the responsibility of avoiding a human-to-vehicle collision is deferred to the pedestrians.

Cusco streets are a grid-less web of one-ways spreading out in no logic across the city. Most streets are framed by two story buildings made of colorful clay. With the exception of a cross section of major routes, the streets are barely the wide enough for a single small car and an 8 inch sidewalk on one side. This whopping 8 inch allotment is not just intended to provided ample space for two people to pass heading in either direction, it also is space that is taken up by the rear-view mirrors of rapidly moving cars. In most areas of Peru, food poisoning and contaminated water play a large role in afflicting the ales of unsuspecting tourist, Cusco can stand proud of its unique affect; Mirror Checks.

The potential risk is no deterring factor. The city is overwhelmed by a sense of Peruvian communalism. For a center touristic exploration, there is still a distinct feeling of new Peruvian life blended with the inevitable tourist influence. This provides a delicate balance of traveling comfort with interesting and exciting sites. The Plaza de Armas is one of the most pleasing seen so far. Bustling with people at all hours, it´s the most prolific variety of people watching condensed to one area. The center of the city is at a low point of towering hills wrapped around it in panorama. As night sets in, the city lights up above the center and the looming city lights flow seamlessly into the brilliant twinkling stars. This dominance of light against the darkness of night provides a nocturnal energy that is unavoidable. It is intoxicating and consuming in only the most pleasant ways. We have been traveling hard and fast. Without slowing down Cusco allowed us to recharged. It gave us the energy to endure the upcoming trip to Machu Picchu. Little did we know how much energy would be needed.