We had arrived late in the afternoon so we stopped in a little Irish pub called Paddy's. Beverages and lunch were good and we made our way around the main plaza to get our bearings. Back to the hostel for some much needed rest. This hostel room was a suite, price was 150 soles but we ended up getting it for 90 soles.The only way we can describe it is the "Pigeon Coup". A very nice big bed with windows all around, ensuite bathroom and colour t.v. We found out how cold it gets at night, and how much racket the tons of pigeons make! All those windows don't provide much insulation and it was hard getting out of bed freezing! It is beautiful and sunny and warm each day, but then at night freezing.
The next day we needed information on how to get to see all the sights around Cusco. Tour prices and companies are all over the map and it was tough deciding on a person or agency. We booked our first tour the same day at 12.30, and were set to leave at 1.30 for the City Tour. After a very quick lunch at Mr Giros, a very tasty and inexpensive falafel shop, we were on our way.
Qoricancha was the first stop on the tour. We met some Canadian girls on the bus from Winnipeg - three sisters. Manitobans really are everywhere!! Chatted with one I had seen on the flight from Lima the day before and compared itineraries. This first place was crowded and not very interesting and we spent too much time here. It was too much for our Winnipeg girls who ditched out on the rest of the tour for some sun, patio and beers. We were almost convinced to go along but wanted to see the sights.
Saqsahuamanm pronounced "sexy woman", was the next stop and was quite cool. At the entrance there is a 70 soles fee for a one day tour or a ten day "bolisto touristo" card for 130 soles for entrance to all the main sights around Cusco. We decided on the full bolisto touristo card and made it into sexy woman. Huge granite boulders make up most of this sight located on top of Cusco's east side. It was a major site of one of the last battles for the Incan empire against the Spanish. It´´s walls were made of the biggest boulders in all of the sights we saw. 18 feet tall 10 feet wide and weighing 40 tonnes. There was also some cool caves to walk through on our way around the sprawling complex. It was truly amazing!
The next stops were a lot quicker and right beside each other. Next was Pukapukara. It is a nice sight but fairly basic, showing us a ruin that was used for the basic people to worship and used for gatherings. Tambomachay was next and was a water source for the people to use for irrigation and farming. Scientists studied this sight and still to this day cannot find the source of the water. The water comes out of the fountain at the same pace no matter what time of year. It continued down all the way to Cusco.
The last sight we saw (or didn't see) was Q'engo after night had fallen. It was a major spot for rituals and sacrifice of the llamas. It had a cave like structure and in it was a huge carved table they used to do the sacrifices. Also it has a huge rock formation nicknamed the " frog " because of the shape of the shadow of the rock and symbolizes fertility. After this last sight was a quick stop at a market for some coca tea, a bit of shopping, and then back to the Flying Dog and the Pigeon Coup for some much needed rest.
Saqsahuaman, aka Sexy Woman, looking over Cusco
Ginormous rocks at Saqsahuaman, with all kinds of crazy angles that magically fit together.
Saqsahuaman
One of the many caves at Saqsahuaman that was used for both transport and waterways, depending on the cave or tunnel
The flowing water at Tambomachay. It pours out from the top, then splits perfectly between the two hole at the bottom. It flows the exact same at all times of the year, and to this day scientists still can´t figure out the source of the agua.
The Pigeon Coup - we weren´t kidding!!
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