A mix of identities

        Walking through Cusco, it is obvious that tourism is really important to the city, as well as that of the tourist experience in the city. We’ve heard from almost every tour we have done that the city heavily relies on tourism, and that it’s taken a big hit with covid. Even now, in the center of the city, the streets are lined with shops which cater to tourists, whether that is scheduling excursions and hikes or selling paintings and traditional goods to take home as souvenirs. The importance of tourism was expressed in ways I found unexpected, such as there was an altar for the patron saint of tourism in Cusco that people were giving their own ofrendas to in the church, la Merced. This was an interesting juxtaposition given that the church commemorated the Spanish conquest, was also a popular tourist destination, tried to force us to pay for a tour guide, and was a sacred place that included a patron saint of tourism

It is obvious through what we have seen in Cusco that religion, specifically Catholicism, is very important to not only the culture, but also to the history of the area, given the past of the conquistadors, and the impact that has had on the society. The same can be said for the Incan culture that is Cusco’s past but also present, as there seems to be a sort of revitalization or new awakening of interest in Incan culture. Given the cross section of the Incan and colonial past, the combination of things that I saw in the church was really representative of what I have seen in Cusco in general, which is a mix of all of these different aspects. It is kind of hard to wrap my head around this combination because the different aspects seem to contrast and are not identities I would think could easily mix in a city; the Inca, the colonial, and the vacation destination all exist in tandem.

As a result, I find that it is a little confusing at times to decide what I am supposed to take away from seeing these sites. For example, when we visited Qorikancha, I saw a church built on top of sacred Incan temples, and the museum both run by the church, and collecting entry fees. Yes, it is an amazing museum, and very well kept, but I can’t decide how I feel about the experience itself. Is it the blending of two cultures that we spoke about in class, or is the church still profiting off of its evangelizing and colonizing efforts? I guess there is no right answer, as it is probably a mix of the two and would depend on who you ask. Whether I make up my mind on the topic, I found that the contrasting historical and cultural identities of Cusco give me a lot to think about as we walk around.