Sights from Cuzco

 

Incan Baths and the Sexywoman

our last day in Cuzco consisted of 4 different sites of ican ruins. The first, Saysayhuaman, is mnemonically pronouned "sexy woman" - it actually means satified falcon. When the city of cuzco was laided out like a puma, these ruins were the teeth of the puma, and also served as a military blockade. Next we moved on to Tambo Machay - know as "el bano de incas" - a public bathhouse. We also visited Puca Pucara and Q'uenco other relics in the area. Later that after noon we did our part to stimulate the peruvian economy by possibly over indulging in alpaca woolen textiles!

Day 4 - Cuzco: 11,000 ft

After 3 days in the valley we returned to Cuzco. We arrived in time for lunch on "gringo alley" where most of the tourist eat/shop/stay. then spent the afternoon exploring the city, who's beautiful city center could rival any major european city. We navigated ourselves through the 2 main cathedrals, thanks to Lonely Planet.

Machu Picchu!

After a taxi, train, and bus we arrived at Machu Picchu! It was specatular! we hiked up hill a bit, dodging the tour groups for a good shot of the whole site. how deep the valley below on either side cannot be seen from these photos. after a quick snack lunch in a little nook of the ruins, we spent the next couple of hours exporing the vast maze of sun dials, prison cells, baths and gardens. We even found some llamas!

Words and pictures cannot really capture how amazing this day was.

But perhaps this little video will give you a taste.

Day 2 - Incan Ruins Here We Come!

After a good night sleep we awoke for a full day of hiking. We first went to Moray - the agricultural bowl - dug deep into the earth to see how variouos plants grew in different microclimates

From Urubamba

Then we headed to the salt mines "las Salinas" - which were surprisingly fascinating. 5 thousand plots of salt that is mined in a valley from water running down the top of the mountain from a hot spring. We hiked down the valley to a wee little town and caught at local bus back to Urumbamba.

From Urubamba

After a yummie lunch at a place with tastey chiclo y queso (corn and cheese) and purple corn juice. we head to more incan ruins at Pisac.




After hiking around the ruins, we hiked 5 k down hill to the little village. Its amazing how a little shopping in the mercado can revive even the most tired legs!

From Urubamba

Day One - Journey into the Sacred Valley

From Urubamba

After 20 hours of travel and a near miss of one connecting flight we arrived to be greated by our driver at the Cuzco airport. He drove a bit fast in the rain down the narrow mountain roads into the Sacred Valley of the Incas - Urubamba, but we arrived (a bit tired) safely. Our host and friend from Oxford, Richard greated us at his office/lodge/compound. Thanks to our altitude sickness pills and the coca tea we were feeling pretty good!

From Urubamba