Music

There are many reasons for traveling.  New experiences in one form or another top the list.

Food is usually part of it, and a large part of it for me.

Another part for me is music.  And the spanish influence in the music here is very much front and centre.  But in addition to the local music, there are a large number of travelers who play music as well.

For some unknown reason, they seem to form in clusters.  Last week there were no people lugging guitars through the hostel, and today there are four different people in this 16 room hostel.

Last week at the restaurant Spices, a young lady treated the guests to her voice and guitar.  The hard walls gave a great acoustic space for her voice to work, and it was one of the best evenings I have spent listening to some one with a very special voice.  I have absolutely no doubt that even though I never got to hear her name, I will be hearing her voice again somewhere and should she wish it, there is a world wide audience for her singing.

There have been times I have been going past local churches at times of worship and heard hymns sung with great enthusiasm and vigour, and absolutely no other redeeming features.  I have walked past street performers who did not catch my attention, and others who held me rooted in place until they chose to stop.

Here in Pisac, every Sunday, the church bells ring pleasantly, they ring out for about two minutes, weaving a call that is far less strident than most bells, and this time around somehow they are blending into the guitar and voice of the duo practicing on the roof.

Music plays a part of every human culture, and the variety of the sounds and rhythms at times can raise us above our selves, join us together or annoy and send one trying to get out of earshot.  Today, it has given me pause and made me glad to be in this place, at this time.