8/31
Central Lima, inaccessible by American-style super highways, is an hour's drive from the airport, so we had an early departure for our flight to Cusco (frequently spelled as Cuzco in English and as Cusco in Spanish, it is the traditional capital of the Quechuan people who would spell it Qosco). Everyone in our group was expecting a big change, moving from near sea level in Lima to Cusco's 11,000 foot altitude, and Wilfredo warned us to walk slowly and rest before lunch on our arrival. We could definitely tell the difference, the magic treatment for altitude adjustment was available everywhere: coca leaves for free at the airport as soon as we deplaned; coca tea at the hotel; coca leaves at breakfast; coca candy passed out by Willie.
After lunch we set out on a tour of several historical sites around Cusco:
*Sackaywama (literally translated as "satisfied falcon"), the remains of an Inca citadel on a mountain side above the town. Although archaeologists have ascertained that the area was populated as early as 900 CE and some of the foundations were started by the Kilke people in 1100, the fortress was completed by and credited to the Incas, who built most of the structure around 1300. It is estimated that 20,000 Inca built the citadel over a 70 year period.
*A traditional weaving factory (if you can call a half dozen manually run looms a "factory") where we learned about some of the traditional patterns and processes and were afforded the opportunity to purchase some lovely souvenirs, which we did.
*Pukapukara (literally translated as "red fort"), built in the 15th century. Not much is known about Pukapukara, but its location on a hill side near a major route would have made it an important defense location.
*The 17th century Cusco Cathedral (officially the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin," another UNESCO WH Site) and the earlier Church of the Society of Jesus, both situated along the Plaza De Armas in the traditional center of the city.
*Temple of the Sun (Qorikancha), the traditional religious center of the Inca. Most of the Qorikancha was destroyed by the Spanish, but much of it has been reconstructed on the original Inca foundations.