Monday 17 September 2012 and
Friday 21 September 2012
RESIDENCIAL EL SOL
PLAZA SANTO DOMINGO 263
CUZCO PERU
TEL (51-84) 241739
I can't believe we have a 4.30am alarm set for a 7am flight. Off to Cusco where more adventures were ahead of us. A driver collected us from the airport and we were very impressed with the location of our hotel - right opposite an Inca temple. We wandered the town and quickly realized that this is a popular tourist destination. We love Cusco. It's clean, vibrant and bustling with locals and tourists. We happily clicked away. I have another city square story. Greg and I were sitting on a bench in the square, when a young boy, say 10, gestured if I wanted a shoe shine! Did I ever. After all the walking I've done. So I sat back as he started when all of a sudden two Policia came up and in no uncertain terms told him to finish and move on. Poor kid! He did a great job and i gave him 2 Soles instead of the 1 that he asked for! The police are well represented everywhere!
After lunch we went on a city tour and we were both in awe of the evidence of the Incas, their precision in building, particularly the inca temple, Saqsawaman (a fort) and Tambomachay, the temple of water. We were taken back to a time where the inca shifted enormous limestone rocks, cut them exactly and erected buildings without the use of mortar, and almost jigsaw like to give strength. Amazing! The Spanish thought so too so destroyed some of this fort to use the stone for building their cathedral. Lots more to talk about Cusco but we are going to the Sacred Valley for A few days and we'll return to Cusco for free time then.
We've returned from Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu and are now having a free day in Cusco. Taking it easy. Buying up a little. A day for relaxing and laundry! We found 4 or 5 dogs just lazing on a footpath watching the world go by, so took a photo. There was some schools thing happening in the city square. The guy at the microphone ensured everyone within 50k could hear him and he sounded like he was introducing a wrestling match(if you know what I mean). Next stop Puno and Lake Titicaca!