peru-8-cuzco-sacred-valley

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THE LUCKY TOAD
Ever wondered what cuzqueños do to relax instead of whiling away the hours over a
game of darts or pool in the local bar? Well, next time you’re in a picantería (local restaurant)
or quinta (house serving typical Andean food), look out for a strange metal
sapo (frog or toad) mounted on a large box and surrounded by various holes and slots.
Men will often spend the whole afternoon drinking chicha (fermented corn beer) and
beer while competing at this old test of skill in which players toss metal disks as close to
the toad as possible. Top points are scored for landing one smack in the mouth. Legend
has it that the game originated with Inca royals, who used to toss gold coins into Lake
Titicaca in the hopes of attracting a sapo, believed to possess magical healing powers
and to have the ability to grant wishes.
ficial hipster lounge and late-night backup:
when everything else has closed and the
sun has come up, knock on the door. Happy
hours are 7:30pm to 9:30pm and 11pm to
11:30pm.
Fallen Angel
COCKTAIL BAR
(Map p198; %25-8184; Plazoleta Nazarenas 221;
h6pm-late) This ultrafunky lounge redefines
kitsch with glitter balls, fake fur and even
bathtub-cum-aquarium tables complete
with live goldfish. It isn’t cheap, but the decor
really is worth seeing and the occasional
theme parties held here are legendary.
Norton Rats
PUB
(Map p198; cnr Santa Catalina Angosta & Plaza de
Armas, 2nd fl; h7am-late) Run by a motorcycle
enthusiast, this unassuming expat-style bar
overlooks the Plaza de Armas. It’s a boon for
people watching, if you can get a balcony
seat. Though known for delicious 200g burgers,
it’s also got TVs, darts and billiards to
help you work up a thirst. Avoid the burritos.
Happy hour is 7pm to 9pm.
Cross Keys
PUB
(Map p198; Triunfo 350; h10am-late; W) If you
are thirsty for an Old Speckled Hen, visit the
most established expat and traveler watering
hole in town. This typical British pub has
all the trappings, with leather barstools and
dark wood. As well as a long list of imported
beer, it offers good-value comfort food.
The Frogs
PUB
(Map p198; Huarancalqui 185) Gloriously glamorous
and run by high-profile hipsters, the
Frogs offers a bit of everything. There’s cafe
service from breakfast until 11pm, nightly
live music (ranging from acoustic to reggae
and funk), billiards, beanbags, fairy lights
and hookah pipes. Open early till late.
Piscuo
COCKTAIL BAR
(Map p198; %231-782; Portal Belén 115, second
fl) This low-lit, minimalist bar is in with
local professionals who sit at the wraparound
bar ordering the rainbow selection of
mixed drinks. With live bands on Friday and
Saturday.
Paddy Flaherty’s
PUB
(Map p198; %24-7719; Triunfo 124; h11am-late)
This cramped little Irish pub is packed with
random memorabilia, TVs, a working train
set and homesick European travelers eating
excellent-value hot sandwiches. Happy
hours are from 7pm to 8pm and 10pm to
10:30pm.
3 Entertainment
Clubs open early, but crank up a few notches
after about 11pm. Happy hour is ubiquitous
and generally entails two-for-one on beer or
certain mixed drinks.
In popular discotecas (beware the word
‘nightclub’ – it is often used in Peru to indicate
a brothel), especially right on the
Plaza de Armas, both sexes should beware
of drinks being spiked. The tried-and-true
stops on the big night out in Cuzco are discotecas
Inka Team, Roots and Ukuku’s.
oUkuku’s
LIVE MUSIC
(%24-2951; Plateros 316; h8pm-late) The most
consistently popular nightspot in town,
Ukuku’s plays a winning combination of
crowd pleasers – Latin and Western rock,
reggae and reggaetón (a blend of Puerto Rican
bomba, dancehall and hip-hop), salsa,
hip-hop etc – and often hosts live bands.
Usually full to bursting after midnight with
as many Peruvians as foreign tourists, it’s
good, sweaty, dance-a-thon fun. Happy hour
is 8pm to 10:30pm.
Cuzco & the Sacred Valley E C N u T zC E R O TA I N M E N T