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Cusco, Peru |
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After breakfast we were whisked to the airport for our flight to Cusco. On the advice of our driver, we requested seats on the left side of the plane where we could see the city of Cusco spread out before us on our approach. The original Incan city was laid out in the shape of a Puma, however the modern city has grown enough so that the original outline is no longer visible from the air.
Cusco was the Capital of the Inca Empire and the stone foundations built by the Inca are visible all over town. Notice there is no mortar in Incan stonework. The stones fit precisely together and are virtually earthquake proof. The Spanish style buildings wih wooden balconies sit atop the Incan bases. A statue of Manco Inca, who waged the last bloody wars with the conquistadors stands proudly on a non-Incan stone platform.
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Incan InterlockingBuilding Blocks |
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We settled into the Novotel Hotel sipping on cocoa tea while we planned our explorations of the area. The Novotel is a converted Hacienda with a glass canopy covering the central courtyard. The rooms in this section of the hotel have hard wood floors wardrobes and deep set windows revealing the thickness of the walls.
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The paintings in the stairwell are of particular note. They are painted on the walls frames and all! The food at the Novotel was exceptional. In fact the lamb was so good that Linda and I ordered it twice. In the evenings a string quartet of three guitars and harp played softly for diners and guests in the lounge area. It is a most pleasant experience.
We began our exploration with a visit to the Main Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas. This cathedral may not appear as elaborate on the outside but there are three chapels inside that are truly amazing. Local artisans who were learning the Baroque and Rococco styles from the Spanish combined the two styles creating a most intricate and complex design. Guilding their elaborate designs make them sparkle beyong belief. Photos are not allowed so you will have to take my word for it. The alter in one of the chapels is a solid mass of silver that is a real eye-popper.
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Above the shops surrounding the Plaza de Armas are many restaurants and clubs. One night we went to La Retama, a restaurant featuring a buffet of local cuisine and a Folkloric Show of Peruvian Music and Dance. The food was excellent and the show was a lively mix of classical and folk music played on native intsruments. We were especially taken with the dancers whose energy and enthusiasm was infectious and electrified the room.
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Our hotel was just a few steps off the Plaza de Armas so we spent part of our evenings there mingling with the locals. Bathed in the golden glow of many streetlights, the Plaza has a very welcoming and cozy feeling. Perhaps that is because the glow is reflected up from the well worn streets and sidewalks or perhaps it was the presence of the full moon. Either way, our evenings on the plaza were a pleasant transition to slumber after a busy day.
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Our next stop are the ruins at Pisaq and Sacsayhuaman.
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