Cusco is the old Inca capital and it is full of the mood of both, the old Inca culture, colours, people, as well as the Spanish and catholic influence. Most people speak Quechua as their first language, some don't understand (our) spanish, and English is rather seldom. Plenty of beautiful old buildings, a cathedral with gold and silver all over the place (the altar was of 1,250kg solid silver), great colourful clothes, but the lot at 3,500m altitude.

We got our fair share of altitude sickness. Locals recommend chewing of coca leaves (not prohibited in Peru, Chile, Argentina) or mate de coca tea, which has helped.