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Looking for some unique souvenirs in Cusco?
How about fresh juice?
Produce?
A delicious meal?
San Pedro Market has it all!
As you walk into the sprawling market building, every one of your senses will come alive.
The smells will entice you to have a bite here, seated next to one of the many locals who dine here. A true treat for your tongue!
The sights are plenty and colorful! With so much to buy, you won’t know where to start. Feel the fabrics. Try on a hat or scarf. Squeeze a lemon. Peruse the pachamama dolls and other mementos.
The sounds…the sound of frying chicken, locals laughing and exchanging pleasantries, thousands of items being transported in and out. Sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming!
The whole experience is wonderful and one that all tourists should make the short trip for, however, there are some things to remember; make sure the juices are made with bottled water and if you buy any fruits and vegetables, make sure to wash them before eating. Its wonderful to support the local people by making purchases, but always haggle for the best price. Many vendors see dollar signs when the see Gringos approaching. Be prepared to walk away and try another vendor, even in the next stall. Most importantly, keep an eye on your belongings as it can get crowded, especially in the mornings.
The most important thing to remember, however, is to enjoy yourself and take it all in!
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San Pedro Market
- Address: Calles Tupac Amaru and Cascaparo, about an eight minute walk from Plaza de Armas
- Hours: 0900-1800, daily
- Admission: free
- Getting There: From Plaza de Armas, head south along Calle Manta, past Plazoleta Espinar. As you pass Plaza San Francisco, head under the archway, and walk approximately two minutes. San Pedro Market will be on your left.
Looking for a “Trajan Market” sign (or the Italian equivalent) marking the entrance, I must have walked past the actual entrance three or four times before I realized that the Museum of the Imperial Fora was where I needed to be.
Walking to the far end of the building, I utilized the stairway and headed to the courtyard on the side of the market. Here, current exhibitions are on display and I was pleasantly surprised to discover The Spiral, an installation designed by artist Luminita Taranu, inspired by the Trajan’s Column. I loved the colorful hues and metals used in the creation of this masterpiece…and I loved the photo opportunities it presented!
Walking back through the interior part of the compound, I took more time to inspect the intricacies of the construction and the pieces that occupied its interior.
It’s Christmastime in the city!
Our flight from New York to Istanbul was uneventful, if not a long one. Movies and a nap helped pass the time and I was quite comfortable in economy class with the help of my new neck pillow and foot sling. Before long, we were landing in Turkey, gazing longingly at the skyline, wishing I had time to visit the Bazaar (how I miss Istanbul’s shopping!) After a three hour sit, we boarded our plane and were landing in Kenya six hours later, making our way through customs and immigration quickly.
Making our way out of Terminal 1D, we began looking for a cafe that we could have a bite to eat and hang out. Paul Caffe was near the main part of the airport, and after entering, we discovered that many other people were spending time and even taking naps (which the workers did not seem to mind). Ordering a couple of sodas, we found a table with outlets nearby to charge our devices. After having breakfast a little later, we found very clean bathrooms just around the corner and were able spread out our things, change clothes and take a quick sponge bath.
There are a few companies that offer shuttle transportation between Nairobi and Arusha. We chose Riverside from a recommendation from a friend and because the price was higher than two of the others that I had investigated. Believing the higher price made the product more desirable, we were a little disappointed to find the bus’ interior to be only adequate. A few seats were available near the back of the bus and we found the ride to be a bit uncomfortable due to the lumpy seats and the many speed bumps along the highway. Despite the cramped quarters, however, we were able to take a quick nap before arriving at a rest stop about three hours later. Given ten minutes to use the facilities and get a drink, we even had time to peruse the many crafts available at the site.
Departing the rest stop, we soon found ourselves at the Namanga border crossing, about 120km from Arusha. Ushered into the building and lined up against a wall, the process was a bit confusing. A uniformed officer checked to ensure that each person had a yellow fever immunization card before allowing us to proceed to the window. Since we had arrived into Kenya, the night before, we were quickly re-fingerprinted and stamped out. Heading to the exit, we found our bus waiting for us and hastily dodged the numerous Masai women selling bracelets, necklaces and other items. Driving around to the Tanzanian side of the border, we were required to claim our baggage from the bus and proceed into the building to clear immigration and customs. Once again, our yellow fever immunizations cards were checked and we were ushered into one of the lines snaking through the new building. At the window, our immigration forms (given to us by our driver) were handed to the agent and $100 (per person) was paid while our visa was pasted into our passports. Though we were required to bring our baggage into the building, we were not required to pass it through the x-ray machines nor was it inspected.
One of the oldest hotels in East Africa, the Arusha Hotel was established in 1894 in the then new and undeveloped town. Over the years, the hotel was a haven for those traveling from Cairo to the Cape and beyond. Enduring many changes and improvements over the years, the hotel has retained its status as one of Arusha’s grandest hotels, offering its foremost hospitality to many guests over the years, including the Prince of Wales, Baron Von Blixen and John Wayne, while filming Hatari.
An Airtel office, a block away, was also a convenient find. Knowing that we would be restricted to WiFi in the lobbies of our lodges during our safari, adding a local sim card to my extra phone ensured that I could be reached in the event of an emergency. It also allowed me to have access to the internet while we were out and about or in our room.
