Where to begin with our days in Cusco...from city walks, to markets, Inca ruins and chocolates...we have relaxed a little and explored a lot!

Sitting at 3300m above sea level and with approximately 500,000 people plus tourists this city takes your breath away...literally. We spent our first day getting acclimatized to the change in altitude by following the free City tour. The tour introduced us to the history of the Inca empire, the narrow cobblestone streets and their use in ancient Inca times, as well as the cathedral, churches and markets. Our guide, Elvis, provided us with an awesome tour and improvised when a group of school children paraded through the Santa Clara archway to celebrate one of the seven saints per day that are celebrated.

We picked up a Boleto Turistico del Cusco (tourist ticket) that gave us access to 14 sites over ten days, and managed to visit approximately 9 different ones. The ruins being the most impressive...with massive rock placed to build terraces, villages, temples and more.

Our trip to Ollantaytambo and onto Machu Picchu didn’t disappoint...there is an appreciation for the Inca civilization even if we question their stairs as they are “not to code” by modern standards, and for a shorter civilization some of the steps up would be a big one! Both archeological sites are impressive. Ollantaytambo displayed a fortress village with watch towers, storage sheds and various agricultural terraces used in the Inca period, with some restoration required due to the Spaniards. Machu Picchu is spectacular - with terraces, temples, thousands of steps, and various hiking paths. We experienced it during a foggy, rainy day which gave it a mysterious character all of its own. Our walk to the Inca bridge is not for those with height issues, as the pathway narrows in places and doesn’t have a guard rail (no worries mom...all good). Our second hike to the Sun Gate, where those trekking enter Machu Picchu on their fourth day, provided us with further appreciation of the Inca’s overall physical fitness levels. At the end of visit we decided to walk back to Aguas Caliente along the stairs down to the village...about an hour straight down...crossing the switchback roads of the buses.

Our final day today sent us to Pisac, an Inca citadel, and a few museums...all of the history and beauty of the area of Cusco is overwhelming with various life lessons to be learned from this ancient civilization.

Machu Picchu pics will be up tmw, as the WiFi is spotty today. Stay tuned as we head to Puno!