Culture in Cusco

By Tina Lin – Guest blogger traveling in Peru.
Today is the last day of hospital visits. I have mix sentiments about going to Hospital Seguro Social. It is the most modern in all of Cusco because patients pay for their treatments. The majority of patients are middle-upper class. In comparison to Hospital Lorena, it is like day and night. The equipments at Seguro Social are much better. I worked in Pediatrics outpatient unit today. The doctors patiently explained everything to me.
They often ask me about medical school system in the United States and how many years it takes to become a specialist in the United States. Here, people take a test that places them into medical schools. Then, it takes 7 years of school and about 3 years to specialize. It is a relief to know it is a pain to be medical students in other countries too.
At lunch time, I went to Qoricancha (temple of the Sun) to visit the museum. This is because my Boleto Turistico is expiring on 7/24. This tourist ticket allows you to see about 10 different historical sites in Cusco. However, you have only one week to complete it. Given our busy schedule this week, it is hard to cram all the visits in. This museum is located on Avenida del Sol. I have passed by it several times. The museum itself is small, but it contained the artifacts excavated on-site around 1993. It allows you to imagine just how much more things are yet buried underground in Cusco. There were head jewelries, potteries, weapons, and skull remains. A note on these skull remains…the ones on exhibit have holes of various sizes drilled into them. This is because Incans used to perform brain surgeries! There are also elongated skulls signifying the status of the high priests.
Aside from these artifacts, I also read a passage about their perception of the world. It is believed that the world is divided into three dimensions. Hanan-Pacha is similar to heaven. It is where the Gods live. Kay Pacha is our world in the present. Uqhu Pacha is the underworld. It is where ancestors and the deceased live. The Incan kings were the bridge between Hanan Pacha and Kay Pacha. They can communicate with Gods and rule earth.
Tonight, I promised a classmate I will go dancing Salsa with her at Mama America. I have been there three times and I am not too impressed with the dance floor. However, I do like the view of Plaza de Armas from its windows. I will not be out too late. We have to leave for Machu Pichu at 7am.