Cusco day tour

  Cusco, Peru
Monday, March 31, 2008

Cusco Cathedral at night

Today was a  l o n g  day, but very entertaining and interesting.

arriving in Cusco

landing in Cusco

arriving in Cusco 2

We started the day by waking up at 6AM, picked up at 7:30AM and took a 10AM flight from Lima to Cusco.  It was only an hour flight.  We got off the plane outside on te runway and immediately I enjoyed the fresh mountain air.  This city has no pollution as there are no factories because they rely heavily on tourism.  Just walking on the runway I enjoyed the view of mountains dotted with homes and villages.

Cusco

Cusco Cathedral 1

Cusco 1

Cusco 2

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Cusco 5

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Cusco, Peru

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Cusco, Peru 91

Cusco girls

Our driver took us to our hotel, Las Portales Hotel, and gave us the run down on the days to come.  I was mostly concerned about getting altitude sickness as this is the one thing people complain about; even friends that have grown up in Peru and have returned.  Bram and I had been loading up on altitude sickness pills, and while they have worked this entire day, it does cause an excessive need for water and therefore bathroom trips.


Bram and I grabbed a quick lunch in our hotel lobby and were then picked up at 1:30PM for a tour of Cusco.  We were joined by 24 other people on a bus.  Our first stop was the Cusco Cathedral.  It was located in the Plaza de Armas which was the main square.  It had churches on two sides and it was beautiful.  WE started with a tour inside the cathedral.  It was very impressive and built by the Spanish when they conquered the Incas and imposed Catholocism for 300 years.  Despite the beauty of all these churches, it is sad that they were built on all former holy Incan sites which makes it impossible now to really uncover the mysteries and past of the Incas.  Despite that I relly enjoyed the church, its paintings, designs and baroque style.

Cusco Cathedral 5

Cusco Cathedral 6

Cusco Cathedral 7

Cusco Cathedral 9

We were on the bus again and the next stop was Qorikancha, another Spanish church, but this one did have a small amount of Incan remains.  The view of the city from this church was so impressive!

Qorikancha

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Qorikancha 5

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Qorikancha Church

Qorikancha Church 2

Qorikancha Church 4

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Qorikancha 9

Qorikancha Church 1

Qorikancha Church 5

We climbed aboard the bus again and the next stop was Saqsaywaman (sexy-woman).  This was a former Incan military outpost.  Some of the rocks were enormous and weighed numerous tons.  It is mind boggling to think how the Incans moved these stones; especially the ones on the upper levels...and all of them without the use of the wheel!  Some believe the walls were a form of fortification, while others believe it was only used to form the head of the Puma that Sacsayhuamán along with Cuzco form when seen from above. Like much Inca stonework, there is still mystery surrounding how they were constructed. The structure is built in such a way that a single piece of paper will not fit between many of the stones. This precision, combined with the rounded corners of the limestone blocks, the variety of their interlocking shapes, and the way the walls lean inward, is thought to have helped the ruins survive devastating earthquakes in Cuzco.
The Spanish harvested a large quantity of rock from the walls of the structure to build churches in Cuzco, which is why the walls are in perfect condition up to a certain height, and missing above that point. Sacsayhuamán is also noted for an extensive system of underground passages known as chincanas which connect the fortress to other Inca ruins within Cuzco. Several people have died after becoming lost while seeking a supposed treasure buried along the passages. This has led the city of Cuzco to block off the main entrance to the chincanas in Sacsayhuamán

Saqsaywaman Incan ruins

Saqsaywaman Incan ruins 2

Saqsaywaman Incan ruins 3

Saqsaywaman Incan ruins 4

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Saqsaywaman 1

Saqsaywaman 2

Saqsaywaman

Saqsaywaman 4

As we headed back to the bus the buying frenzy had begun for all of us.  There were many native Peruvian women selling all kinds of goods.  I finally broke down and bought a typical Peruvian hat that has worked wonders in keeping me warm.  We were waiting on the bus for one last couple and the ladies were standing by the window and a few of os were negotiating with them while still sitting in the bus.  I was holding two hats and bus started to move away.  I quickly tossed back the one I didn´t want and rapidly handed her an amount of money I thought was fair.

The next stop was Tambomachay.  It consists of a series of aqueducts, canals and waterfalls that run through the terraced rocks. The function of the site is uncertain: it may have served as a military outpost guarding the approaches to Cusco, as a spa resort for the Incan political elite, or both.

Cusco, Peru 92

Cusco, Peru 93

Cusco Inca 1

guinea pig dinner

Afterwards was a cave formerly used by the Incas for animal sacrifice.


Following the tour, Bram an I met a couple from California and we all walked to a restaurant that had been recommended to both of us called A Mi Manera.  We became true Peruvians by eating their customary food...GUINEA PIG!!  It was ok, but there wasn´t a lot of meat on them and it was a bit bizarre since they came out with their claws.  In hindsight I am happy that I asked for mine to be served "sin cabeza" (Without the head).

guinea pig dinner 2

guinea pig dinner 1

After dinner Bram and I made a slow walk back to the hotel.  We stopped a many shops along the way and again bought all kinds of knicknacks.

Cusco Cathedral at night

Cusco Cathedral at night 1

Well, now it is time to get to bed as our guide will pick us up at 5:30AM tomorrow.