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We flew non-stop to Cusco in the morning and were met at the plane by our guide and driver, Edwin and Edison. We checked into the Monasterio Hotel which was a monastery at one time. The guide did all the work of checking in and delivering the bags. I could get used to this personal service that has been available at every point in the trip. The guides and drivers have been taking good care of us.
When we were driving to the hotel, the guide and driver discussed the best way to get there. A demonstration was going on in the city center where the people were protesting about unfair taxes. The hotel was just one block away from the demonstration area, but we were able to make it to the hotel just fine.
In the afternoon, we went on a city tour. We had planned on seeing Koricancha (Temple of the Sun), but it was closed because of the demonstrations. We were able to go to Saqsaywaman (aka Sexy Woman) which is a walled fortress just on the outskirts of the city of Cusco. Cusco was designed in the shape of a puma, and Saqsaywaman was the head of the puma. The massive jagged walls were its teeth.
We also visited the Cathedral of Cusco on the city tour. While the church contained an interesting mix of architectural styles, the most intriguing aspect of the tour was when Edwin pointed out the "hidden stories" behind the sculptures and paintings. Works that appeared to be clearly Christian had pagan images hidden within the paintings. It was also later discovered that rocks and furs used for pagan ceremonies were actually found inside Christian sculptures.
At dinner we had our first taste of the Peruvian delicacy cuy. The menu listed a guinea pig (or cuy) salad, so, after hearing about this dish while we were still at home, we decided it was time to try it. The version we had was a green salad with a few pieces of grilled guinea pig on top. Neither of us cared much for it, so we won't be looking for it on a menu again. But we had to try it. I don't know anyplace else you can order guinea pig for dinner. The standard cuy dinner is served as a whole, roasted guinea pig. I suppose this salad we had was just for the tourists.
Cusco is over 11,000 feet in elevation. Even though we have been to the mountains near home and had no trouble with the elevation, we asked the hotel to turn on the in-room oxygen while we were there. It is pumped in through the ventilation system. We also took the prescription medicine, acetazolamide, which the travel doctor recommended, and drank the coca tea to help with getting used to the thin air. We took things slow and did not have any trouble being in such a high elevation. (Our travel doctor, Francine Olmstead, who provided valuable information about inoculations and altitude sickness, warned us that we might have trouble passing a drug test when we got home if we drank the tea, but that it was perfectly safe and not addictive. It tasted good, too.)
When we were driving to the hotel, the guide and driver discussed the best way to get there. A demonstration was going on in the city center where the people were protesting about unfair taxes. The hotel was just one block away from the demonstration area, but we were able to make it to the hotel just fine.
In the afternoon, we went on a city tour. We had planned on seeing Koricancha (Temple of the Sun), but it was closed because of the demonstrations. We were able to go to Saqsaywaman (aka Sexy Woman) which is a walled fortress just on the outskirts of the city of Cusco. Cusco was designed in the shape of a puma, and Saqsaywaman was the head of the puma. The massive jagged walls were its teeth.
We also visited the Cathedral of Cusco on the city tour. While the church contained an interesting mix of architectural styles, the most intriguing aspect of the tour was when Edwin pointed out the "hidden stories" behind the sculptures and paintings. Works that appeared to be clearly Christian had pagan images hidden within the paintings. It was also later discovered that rocks and furs used for pagan ceremonies were actually found inside Christian sculptures.
At dinner we had our first taste of the Peruvian delicacy cuy. The menu listed a guinea pig (or cuy) salad, so, after hearing about this dish while we were still at home, we decided it was time to try it. The version we had was a green salad with a few pieces of grilled guinea pig on top. Neither of us cared much for it, so we won't be looking for it on a menu again. But we had to try it. I don't know anyplace else you can order guinea pig for dinner. The standard cuy dinner is served as a whole, roasted guinea pig. I suppose this salad we had was just for the tourists.
Cusco is over 11,000 feet in elevation. Even though we have been to the mountains near home and had no trouble with the elevation, we asked the hotel to turn on the in-room oxygen while we were there. It is pumped in through the ventilation system. We also took the prescription medicine, acetazolamide, which the travel doctor recommended, and drank the coca tea to help with getting used to the thin air. We took things slow and did not have any trouble being in such a high elevation. (Our travel doctor, Francine Olmstead, who provided valuable information about inoculations and altitude sickness, warned us that we might have trouble passing a drug test when we got home if we drank the tea, but that it was perfectly safe and not addictive. It tasted good, too.)
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