THE room I'm staying in is classified as a loft, which it is.
It has perhaps one of the squeakiest wooden floors I've ever walked on (see video below).
I pity the people staying below me as it must be annoying to hear the creaking, particularly when I'm going through my Flashdance routine.
It surprises me how easily I get lost walking around Cusco. Then again, considering I struggle to remember which entrance I came out of in a shopping centre back home, it doesn't really.
There are lots of streets and side streets. Sure, there are plenty of landmarks to go by as well, but I think the gravity of the place overawes me somewhat and I've managed to get lost several times while going to and from the World Potato Congress.
Every now and then, the sounds of explosions echo throughout the town. I hear them first at night and think they are fireworks but there's another round at about 5.30am, so I'm a bit suspect now.
Smart Traveller didn't suggest Cusco was a war zone. Could Bolivia have gotten wind that's it's missing out on culinary tourism from its potato-loving neighbour? Surely not.
Turns out they are just firecrackers (must be big ones though) for various celebrations.
Still, it's a bit disconcerting to hear the noise on an irregular basis.
It doesn't dull the majesty of the place though.
- Ashley Walmsley travelled to Peru with assistance from the Crawford Fund and with financial support from DFAT Council on Australia Latin America Relations.