Cusco

  We landed in Cusco shortly after noon on June 10, and after lunch at our hotel, we were given a little rest time.  Cusco's elevation is a bit over 11,000 feet, so we were told we needed to adjust.  Dave Webb gave us a very interesting lecture later in the afternoon about the early history of the area from pre-Inca time to the Spanish conquest.  Cusco was the Inca capital and dates back to around 1100 AD.

  In the evening, we walked around the Plaza des Armas, a block from our hotel.  The winter solstice is a major holiday dating from Inca times, so there were mobs downtown each evening with school groups from kindergarten through high school practicing for the major event.

Following the walk around, we had dinner here:

 After breakfast the next morning, we headed up to Saksaywaman above Cusco to look at the ruins dating back to pre-Inca times.  

Here we saw our first (but not our last) alpacas (left) and lama.

Our tour leader Dave Webb and his wife Melody in front of the Utah rock.  Note:  this fortress was put together around 1100, before the Incas took over.  Amazing rock work!

Next we stopped at the statue of Christ above the city.  (Copied from the statue above Rio.)

The view of Cusco from above.

The Plaza

En route Urubamba (Sacred) Valley and Pisac, we stopped to see and pet some lamas and alpacas.

Terry feeding an alpaca (must be the origin of dreadlocks!).

Lots of varieties of potato, corn and couscous grown locally.

Above the valley

Across the valley we walked up to the Inca ruins.

Lots of terracing done by the Incas.

Some of us hiked on up to the top of the ruins.

We stopped briefly at the market in Pisac, then returned to Cusco for the evening.  Lots of activity around the Plaza.

Many costumed dancing groups.  Here's the view from our restaurant.

Loved the crowds.

That concluded our day on June 11.