Exploring San Blas

I continued my walk through the artist's district of San Blas.  It's full of arts and craft studios - right up my street!

As I walked, the heavens opened!  Luckily, I had my waterproof jacket with me, but I still got absolutely soaked!  Typically, there was no coffee shop in the immediate vicinity!  As I headed back down the hill towards the square, I found Jill's, an independent café that looked like the perfect place to dry off.  My blood sugar was low this morning, so I treated myself to a coffee and an interesting-tasting piece of blueberry cheesecake flavoured with sesame.

Suitably refreshed and a little drier, I made my way to the cathedral. 

Cusco Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas is a squatter on the site of Viracocha Inca's palace.  It was built using blocks stolen from the nearby Inca site of Sacsaywaman.  Construction began in 1559 and took almost a century.  It is joined by the 1536 Iglesia del Triunfo to its right and the 1733 Iglesia de Jesus Maria to the left.  The entrance fee gives you access to all three churches.  Unfortunately, you are not allowed to take photos inside any of them.  I did, however, take one sneaky one of the bright blue altar in the main cathedral, complete with a 3-metre diameter Christmas wreath lit up with thousands of fairy lights in front of it!Read more