Pisac Market - a Treasure Trove - but bring your haggling skills !

Pisac is a little town set on the Urubamba river in the Sacred Valley. It was established in 1440 AD and the name means 'partridge' - to the legend that the town is is built in the shape of a bird .
Pisac market is about 40 minus from the city of Cusco . The market operates all week - on Tuesdays,Thursdays and Sundays the market is extended and brings the locals out to cook , sell fruit and vegetables, set up food stalls and generally get ready for the onslaught of foreigners from Cusco !

The market sells everything from tourist tack to antiques. There is a lot to browse through and once you have identified what is worth it , what is not - its time to haggle.

The market stalls are covered in tarpaulin as the rain just arrives whenever and a few times I've had to dodge the water logged on the tarpaulins as they come crashing down --much to the amusement of the stall holders !

Kids follow you in the market -either to get their photo taken - for a donation - as they are in traditional dress and usually holding a lamb  or trying to sell you whistles , bangles, woven bracelets etc.I meet Ruben , who speaks perfect English and his little brother Elvis - they follow me around until I buy a whistle - this boy has some sales techniques and when he spots me having coffee outside the Pisac Inn overlooking the market - he zones in quickly on the people sitting next to me - asking if they are my friends ? I don't  blame these kids , poverty is rife , and mother, father and kids are all trying to sell to make a living. Needless to say the whole Dutch group sitting next to me walk away with whistles to add to their growing mound of useless objects. All for a good cause.

Woven textlies, alpaca, silver , crystals, shamanic instruments,hats,boots,bags its endless ! But what draws my attention is the antique skirts , the shipibo (although limited) textiles and the antique artefacts.Ive already accumulated a few smaller items . I'll keep on browsing until I'll find exactly what I'm looking for.

The food side of the market offers piles of fruit and nuts , palo santo and other incenses , a woman frying chicken, big bowls of steaming broth of chicken , medicinal herbs , san pedro powder , breads .Mostly locals eating here as there are a few restaurants around offering fairly good food and treats .The prices here are higher than in Cusco - as its quite touristy but hidden down the roads of Pisac are a few treasures at really good prices.
The Blue Llama makes an excellent Hot chocolate especially on this rainy , stormy day.Sitting upstairs on the balcony its quite a scene to see the rain coming down the Valley and the lightning striking .Market stall holders run for cover and we move inside as the rain now becomes waves across the tarpaulins !

The  cobbled streets of Pisac are quaint but yet some streets are marred by commercial signs - but in this day and age not uncommon in small places having to survive. Children play down the alley ways , we watch three boys naughtily playing with matches - till a security guard with perfect timing turns up. There are many little restaurants varying in price from the Pisac Inn with expensive dishes to restaurants that offer lunch for 10 soles. Ulrike's seems to be the local hangout with good wifi -three floors and excellent carrot cake! In the market place there is an ancient oven where they bake empanadas filled with salty cheese,tomato and onion .Delicious at 3 soles. They also have live guinea pigs - But must say they are fattened up maybe as a tourist attraction and not for the pot. Or so I hope !
Around the square is Mullu as well offering some asian influenced food and african fusion. Nadia and I ventured out to Chakana restaurant for lunch - a delicious homemade lentil and beetroot burger and quinoa salads. All good and vegetarian before the Ayahuasca ceremony.
Other restaurants offer Ayahuasca diets - no salt, sugar, spice,meat etc . We drink hot strawberry tea - not so sure I like it and eat quesadillas with hummus , cheese fingers and guacamole at Sweet Om restaurant at Nidra Wasi - 5 minutes lol outside Pisac in Gringoville.
Pisac has much to offer to all travellers - holistic lifestyles,treks,plant medicine ceremonies,astrology, massages,sweat lodges.It's a place one could hang around for awhile.