Fiesta!

When we checked into our hotel, we ran into the American owner, who was pleased to tell us that our visit coincided with one of the village's annual fiestas. She said that processions and other ceremonies would be taking place throughout that day and the next. While we were up on the hillside checking out the fortress of Ollantaytambo, we caught our first glimpse of finely costumed locals making their way to one of the churches, playing music and dancing as they went. There was even a few cannon shots that reverberated endlessly among the massive mountains that surround the village.

Here's the procession we saw from the hillside. Though this is zoomed in a lot, we could hear them just fine! The music was great.

Later that day, we fell into the back of this procession, which consisted of villagers who were taking armloads of beautiful flowers to the church where the Nino was. This little interval occurred when (seriously) no one had the keys to the church. It was funny.

Chris was amused by these musicians who had to wait along with everyone else. About a minute after this photo was taken, Chris' prediction came true, which was: "Watch, if nothing happens soon, they're going to start noodling on their horns." Musicians are the same in every country, it turns out.