Cusco for the day

Not an early start, so time for a leisurely breakfast. Next oxygen levels checked and we have all improved on yesterday, yay. What was yours? I’m up to 95%.

The hotel is very old but adjustments have been made for modern travellers. Thank goodness for the lift. Ours is the top room.

The plan today is to see some of the remains of Inca buildings. You can spot them by the stone walls that are at 13 degrees off the straight level and not held together by mortar.

Inca temples were terraced and sloped up to face the sun as this was the main belief . They believed life had three sections :the heavens represented by the condor, the middle represented by the puma and the lower was the snake. This was the Mother Earth level.

At the winter solstice, the people prayed for the sun to return. The king ,who was considered the son of the son god ,!would offer the sacrifice of a baby llama. If the heart still beat, it was considered a good sign for the coming year. Human sacrifice were infrequent and only if the signs were bad. It was usually a girl of 14-16 from the villages who was sent to Cusco. She lived in this house.

Most of the Inca buildings were taken apart and used in colonial buildings but you can still see signs of them and their unique building method. Round stones were placed at the bottom and the walls sloped to prevent damage by earthquakes. No one is quite sure how the stones were cut to shape or moved.

Many streets are narrow with steps either side or can be pathways between buildings. .

Here in the centre of Cusco there are plazas and churches . If there is grass , don’t walk on it. I heard the park police blow his whistle at you.

There was a colourful wedding party leaving this one. Wasn’t the music great and all those characters dressed up. It was quite a sight.

Colonial builders were skilled. Look at the details on this church.

People earn money by selling souvenirs, food or simply dressing up to be paid for you to take their photo. There are also people who still wear traditional clothing. Some of these people may not be Peruvian but refugees from Venezuela.

The people of Cusco are proud of their history. They recognise the good and bad. This is reflected in their statues and mural.

Pachacútec defeated neighbouring tribe who had invaded Cusco. He was only 14 and went on to expand the Inca territory.

Did you enjoy your lunch? I didn’t try the Alpaca but it looked tasty.

The view from the restaurant is magnificent. I found the native trees interesting and both the courtyard and tunnel entrance that reflect Inca architecture.

Peruvian trees are short with weak trunks (hence the stake holding it up) Australian eucalyptus trees are now being planted.

Weren’t there some fascinating sights we noticed before our cocktail class.

How did you go at cocktail making. Shaking for a minute actually requires lots of energy. I suggest we use a blender when we try this at home. What do you think?

Let’s wobble back to the hotel, pack a small bag for the train and go to bed.