CUZCO : What is your honest opinion?????

This topic was created by cucinamia@aol.com (cucinamia@aol.com)
[Sun 16 May, 0:14 Tasmanian Standard Time]

I might be moving to Cuzco this year for a job... How is it? Has anyone lived there before? If you could share the positive and negative points with me, I would be most appreciative.

[There are 4 posts - the latest was added on Wed 19 May, 15:19]

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  1. ahh.....Cuzco...... Added by: Louise (Skwiz_@hotmail.com)
    [Timestamp: Sun 16 May, 0:43 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    Well - i've never lived there but i spent some time there
    and i loved it. I met a woman named Sandra who is from
    Australia and lives there with her husband. They recently
    opened a mountain bike store in Cuzco. She found the going
    tough at first but she has wholeheartedly embraced the
    culture, as I tried to do when i visited early this year.
    She is enjoying it, and doesn't plan to live there
    permenantly but certainly for a few more years. I myself
    thouroughly enjoyed Peru....it was a truly amazing
    experience. It's good that you already have a job lined
    up, because the people are very poor and otherwise I think
    it would be very hard for u to make a living. I really
    liked it there though - the people are incredibly generous
    and welcoming.



  2. Great Place! Added by: LouAnne
    [Timestamp: Sun 16 May, 8:11 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    Just arrived in Lima this morning after spending almost 1
    week in Cusco. It is a great town, not too big, not too
    small but scattered enough not to make it feel like Quito
    where you are 1 gringo out of 1,ooo. There are lots of
    cool things to see/do good selection of restaurants(for
    S.America) and bars to escape to if you feel homesick, and
    the best shopping for handicrafts in Peru, I think. I
    would have liked to have stayed longer or even live there
    for a few months if I had the time. Cusco was definatley
    my favorite place in terms of atmosphere, people, and
    variety in Peru. Good Luck!



  3. Cusco....like everything else, it depends what you like Added by: El Contador (contador@earthlink.net)
    [Timestamp: Tue 18 May, 4:28 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    Was there Sept. 98 for four days before my trip to Machu
    Picchu. Personally, I liked my visit but would not want to
    live there.
    1) Cusco is by far the most popular tourist center in Peru.
    If you get homesick, an advantage is that you can always
    find a "local pub," a place to dance, or tasty
    familiar types of food (if you have O.D.ed on cuy, papas
    and sancochado).

    2) The whole economy of the place is geared toward tourism,
    so if you are having a difficult time struggling with
    Spanish, and other things Peruvian, you can easily
    get away from this sort of thing.
    3) Items one and two are two reasons why I would not live
    there. Cusco is a tourist mecca, it is NOT 'tipico.'
    It is my opinion that if one if moving to a foreign land,
    he / she should try and be a part of it.
    a) Learn the language
    b) Eat the food
    c) Learn a bit about the culture
    d) Meet the REAL people -- not just the people who make
    money from the touristsam not making a value.
    If you want a place that is 'tipico,' consider Ayacucho or
    Huancayo in the Andes, or Trujillo, Chiclayo or Arequipa, if
    you want a more urban environment. Lima has some
    interesting museums, but otherwise, I would recommend that
    it be avoided.
    4) Cusco is the kind of place where a foreigner gets catered
    to, because the place would not exist if it wasn't for
    tourism. One could live there, not speak a word of
    Spanish or Quechua, and get along just fine. It is much
    like new immigrants congregating together in a new land,
    so they do not have to adapt to the new country's customs
    (except here, the new immigrants are well to do
    foreigners).

    5) Cusco is at 3300 meters above sea level, or about 11,000
    feet. The air is thin, and the weather is unpredictable.
    I have visited Peru on two different occasions. It has far
    more to offer the visitor than the tourist mecca, Cusco.



  4. Cusco Added by: Pez (mperry04@postofice.csu.edu.au)
    [Timestamp: Wed 19 May, 15:19 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    I lived in Cusco for a year. I came from a well developed
    country and found the worst thing was the lack of water.
    Where I was living (with a local family) there was no
    running water in the afternoons. It depends where you live
    in the Cusco region because most houses are affected by the
    water restrictions. Even flushing the toilet is impossible
    but there are ways to get around that with a bucket of
    water.
    But cusco is THE BEST. If I had the funds I would be living
    there right now. The people are friendly and warm. When I
    arrived I did not speak a word of Spanish after my time
    there I was communicating fine (although grammer still
    aludes me). The food is brilliant (if you enjoy potatoe and
    corn).
    Of course I got homesick but there are many tourists around.
    I found this a bit of a hassle though. Although I lived
    there I was often targeted as a tourist on the streets. It
    can get annoying. TOurists can get annoying. But as others
    have stated there are plethora pubs and clubs, tourist
    hangouts and there are local hangouts.
    I swear you will have the best time of your life. If you
    have any questions give me an e-mail. I'll help you out with
    some tips and hints.
    Pez




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