CUSCO (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
April 22nd - 25th. 4 days in Cusco
Cusco is the handicraft and handwoven textile center of Peru. As one of the highest cities in the world, Cusco takes some getting used to especially we arrive direct from Lima at sea level !
The city is designed in the shape of a Puma, one of the beasts regarded by Incas as sacred. The "Head" is on the hill to the North at the Statue of Christ and is the location of the amazing ruins of SACSAYHUAMAN ! Pronounced as " sexy woman "
From there we get a majestic view of the city , the INCA ceremonial complex overlooks the city of Cusco. The sheer scale of Sacsayhuaman is awesome and so is the workmanship of its masonry where huge chunks of stone fit together with impeccable precision !
SACSAYHUAMAN ...The "Heart" is around the Plaza de Armas which is center of Cusco.
We stayed for 4 days as advised by previous travellers - to aclimatise ourselves to the altitude b4 we start our Inca Trail.
Cusco is set at an altitude 3,350masl...a quaint old town lined with narrow cobbled-stoned lanes. The stone buildings too, look like they popped out from the movie set of the medieval times. One wouldnt be surprised to bump into a horse round a corner! Well... in this case, a Llama ! ha ha .
The facade of the humble looking buildings are most misleading.... Our Hotel Terra Andina, looks no more than a typical stone building, most simple looking wall with normal iron gates in front. In fact the sign board is most unattractive.
Hotel Terra Andina
But to our surprise, as we walked into the so called lobby, it opens up to a huge atrium with an open glass roof.Rooms are very spacious too.
Fantastic healthy spread for breakfast every morning, with bottomless pit of Coca Tea ! Of which we realised is to "save" us at high altitudes. Being "kia Si", from that day on, I sacrificed my usual 3 cups-a-day coffee and drowned myself with Coca !! It has a bit of a "greenish" flavour and to some of us, it's very difficult to drink.
People in Cusco are mainly Inca descesdants and most are still clad in their colorful bright attire, carrying their baskets of fruits on their backs with just an amazing wrap-round cloth.
the streets of Cusco
Fantastic healthy spread for breakfast every morning, with bottomless pit of Coca Tea ! Of which we realised is to "save" us at high altitudes. Being "kia Si", from that day on, I sacrificed my usual 3 cups-a-day coffee and drowned myself with Coca !! It has a bit of a "greenish" flavour and to some of us, it's very difficult to drink.
People in Cusco are mainly Inca descesdants and most are still clad in their colorful bright attire, carrying their baskets of fruits on their backs with just an amazing wrap-round cloth.
the streets of Cusco
Here in Cusco there are many places of interest. The main one being a couple Handicraft Markets on the East side of town is most attractive - here one forgets the altitude sickness !! at least for the girls !
the streets...
the streets...
"year-end Balcony Sale!"
" good morning, Angels ! .."
Cusco also offers a variety of foods, one which captures my interest is the Peruvian speciality - the roasted guinea pig and of course the Peruvian alcoholic drink, Pisco Sour.
Cusco is packed full of bars, many serving the excellent Cusquena beer !
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