Where to go when you have nothing to wear...and other thoughts

...So one thing I have noticed about Cusco is that there is no WRONG THING TO WEAR. So, if you are ever planning a trip here, don't fuss too much with what you are going to wear. This is a city where anything goes. People are dressed up, in winter coats, in shorts, dressed like back packers, and about every conceivable dress level in between. Then there are the layers of scarfs and sweaters...that one has to add and remove all the time... It is so hot here in the day in the full sunlight. Shorts and t short hot. But at night the temperature falls and it is chilling. There have been more than a few nights while we were out walking about the streets where we had to buy a scarf or a sweater. Thank goodness there is always a vendor around willing to sell you socks, scarfs, gloves, and toy llamas. Just to let you know, I have no tourist pride: I bought at least one of everything. Side note: one day while walking up Avenida Sol to the Plaza de Armas  (the big square here), I saw the following for sale on the street: pine apple chunks; sunglasses; all kinds need of tourists adventures; faucets for the  kitchen sink; toy cars; textiles, like all kinds; massages; all the touristy trinkets (llamas, key chains, paintings, etc); nuts; flutes; invites to restaurants; opportunities to pet baby alpacas; beads and jewellery ...and a lot more, including portable confectionary shops on wheels. Getting back to the temperature--it is COLD at night. I had not thought to ask if our hostel had heat. One of those first-world-Canadian foibles. I had assumed that there would be heat (as in some kind of furnace situation) if it was too cold. This was NOT the case. At night we slept in our toques, scarves, sweaters and woollen socks, huddled under our alpaca blankets. A LOT of the Peruvians walked around with toques and sweaters ALL DAY....even when it was super hot outside (maybe 21+ degrees Celsius). One lady in Machu Picchu claimed the whole city in an alpaca poncho and a toque. Unbelievable. But again, that is for another post! Pictures coming as soon as I can figure out how to do it! XO