Bob and Ann in Peru and Equador in 2008

Cusco - Convento, Museo Corikancha

We woke up at 5:30. Ann feeling better decided to suspend diamox since it did not seem to be helpful. We had a good breakfast at the Jose Antonio Hotel. We sat with Charlie and Maryrose and enjoyed hearing about their recent trip to South Africa, especially Botswana.

Eddie called Lima to arrange for Ann's jewelry bag to be delivered to the Lima airport when we stop there in three days.

At 8:15 we hopped on our bus to drive to Qorikancha, the largest Inca Temple reconstruction in Cusco. In 1600 when the Spanish took over it became a Catholic Dominican Convent. The Inca building techniques were sophisticated and buildings were superior and strong. Trapazoids figure often Inca architecture.

Cusco - Sacsayhuaman - Zigzag wall

Back on the bus, we headed uphill stopping for a view shot of awesome Cusco spread out below us. The high point of the day ruins-wise was Saqsaywaman, where we walked around a recently discovered site used for Inca ceremonies celebrating solstices. Modern Cuscans return to the site each June 21st to reinact the pagan rites. The outline of a former reservoir and its aquaduct system was still visible despite its destruction by the Conquistadors when they overcame the Inca defenses. They then used the Inca stone to build Catholic churches and stole the Inca precious gold and silver treasures to melt down into coins and send back to Spain.

Cusco - Kenko - Channeling

Our next stop was at Q'enqo/Kenko. These ruins are more interesting than beautiful. Broken stones, caves and the remains of brutalized buildings are just about all you can see. So far a burial tunnel was uncovered with a sacred grotto and altar. We came upon half a dozen visitors of the tourist persuasion seated in random carved stone seats channeling the long lost Inca priests.

A silver factory was our next stop. We watched the smiths soldering pieces of jewelry which would eventually be blessed by a shaman, bringing good fortune to its lucky buyer/wearer. Some of our group purchased gifts and mementos while the rest of us availed ourselves of the free snacks and coca tea.

Cusco - Lunch with a local family - Our hostess with a guinea pig

Fortunately, we arrived at our home visit in time for a tasty lunch prepared by our hosts. Tasty quinoa soup with potatoes and cilantro, roasted coy (guinea pig), rice with creamed fava beans, potatoes with broccoli and juicy canned peaches for dessert were served with chicha (corn drink), tea, a potent sugar cane/grappa like liquor and bottled water. Madelana, her son Jefferson, her daughter Christina with two grandchildren ate with us and answered our questions about their life in Cusco.

We took our after lunch free time to explore Cusco and shop a little. Walking behind the Cathedral we found several nice stores including a well stocked free trade outlet. Pasteries were a find for Bob in Plaza Regocijo. Ann found inexpensive Inca charm jewelry representing coca leaves- part of the Andean Ancestral Alchemy world of magic!

Back at the hotel after a rest we met in the lounge where Eddie treated us to Pisco sours, the modern Peruvian drink. Since it was still raining we took taxis to dinner. The food was OK but the trout was bland. After taxiing to the hotel we repacked for train trip tomorrow.