.As we flew the mountains were high as Cusco is another 3000 feet higher than Arequipa...
Cusco is a city of about 400,000 people and in the 11th or 12th century was chosen by the Inca as the Center of its’ empire so even today still retains the feel of the Incan culture.
In the main Plaza de Armas in Cusco is a huge statute of Pachacuti who was the ninth ruler of the Kingdom of Cusco (“Sapa Inca”) and later the Emperor of the Inca Empire. Pachacuti began the expansion of the Inca dominion from the valley of Cusco to a big part of western South America.
The Plaza is a very busy place all of the time...
There are also great views from the Plaza to the hills surrounding the city...
A view of the Cathedral which was started in the 1550s when the Spanish conquered the city, they destroyed the Inca temple and built this church on top of its remains....
The most important Inca Temple was the Sun Temple which was richly decorated by the rulers of the empire, this was also destroyed and the Santo Domingo church built on top of it as well...
Inside parts of the original foundation have been preserved...
The Incas empire was a very advanced civilization in many ways particularly in their ceramics and silverwork. These pieces are thousands of years olds and are exquisite...
It was intersting to learn about the history but the beauty of Cusco is lived on the streets, it is such a lively and colourful city...
These young people were participating in a parade celebrating the universities in the city...
These displays were all around the city on el Dia de Madre, Mother’s Day with people stopping for photos....
We ran into this parade another day and got covered with soapy spray...
And another parade with fireworks...
Everywhere someone is selling something...
This one got Don, he said it was a good deal...
Mamas with babies on their backs...
Ladies getting ready for the lunch crowd...corn, potatoes and chichcarron
Peruvians make good soup and this chicken noodle hit the spot our first day there when we still weren’t eating much, his grandmother’s recipe or so he said...
We always enjoy eating away from the main tourist areas as it is cheaper and hopefully we will find some good food, in this hole in the wall where they sold native burgers this alpaca burger was one of the best burgers ever!
Another day we climbed a very steep street to the San Blas neighbourhood which is very old and scenic...
Lots of art galleries there and I thought this piece was great, but too big to buy!
We had to stop lots of times, Don was not amused!!!
Lots of colour...
View of Cusco town from the San Blas lookout...
Now to go down!
San Pedro Market is in the Center of a very traditional and busy neighbourhood...
Lots of fruit juice stands...
Fresh cheese...
What about pig’s head or chicken feet for supper?
People everywhere...
This little girl was enjoying her treat...
And on the streets surrounding the market...
I think she’s had enough for the day!
They look the same!
Cusco was such a great walking city with lots of alleyways and pedestrian streets...
It is a city to enjoy great architecture, street life, culture and one that we could have stayed in longer...
But time to move on to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.
