Cuzco & Machu Picchu

Time is flying by now.

After the rush of the mountains in Huaraz we took a night bus to Lima. The plan was to meet mum at the airport after her long and arduos flight from Sydney. Unfortunately, our much anticipated re-union after almost three months didn't quite go according to plan. (as with so much of our travels in Peru!!)

Eva and I were a touch late arriving at the airport, for reasons I needn't explain. It was around 11pm when we got there and mum was frantic. She had left her bag with a fellow she met on the plane and was manically running around the arrivals hall looking for us...Oops, sorry mum!


After getting that little incident behind us we managed to get out and enjoy a little of what Lima has to offer by way of ancinet ruins and good food!

Eva & I had a beautiful dinner in a restaurant at the base of Ancient Ruins - very nice!

At the Huaca Pucllana ruins in Lima - Mum was still a little jaded at this point

A couple of days in the city were enough though and we were soon on a plane bound for Cusco. A truly beautiful, ancient city with Incan walls, colonial buildings, statues and narrow cobblestoned streets. We spent quite a bit of time trawling the markets and walking around absorbing the atmosphere of the place. The days have been idyllic with blue skies and warm sun. The nights and mornings though are freezing.

As well as being named as the bellybutton of the world, Cusco is also famous for its rather tasty beer - Cusquena and the local Cuscuenans don't mind downing a few it the honour of various fiestas. We have seen two so far; Semana Sunday on the day we arrived when the streets were full of people parading, playing music, eating, drinking and generally having great time. The second involved seemingly all of the children and adolescents in the town performing various indigenous dances and parades. Again there were marching bands everywhere in the streets and marquees set up with people selling beer and food. It was a fabulous energy.

Tasty street food of alpaca, beef heart and chicken kebabs topped with a boiled spud.
This was a little too much for Mum to bear!

We arrived and the city was in full swing for a Semana Santa Festival - Cuzco loves to party

Eva and Mum and an Incan wall

Kids dancing in the Plaza de Armas they were sooo cute!

The costumes were amazing

The Sacred Valley just outside of Cusco was also beautiful, the Incan ruins were impressive and we definitely could have spent more time there. 

Ruins of Inca Terraces and burial sites at Pisac

Markets in Pisac

Ollantaytambo ruins - massive!

But of course the ultimate place was Machu Picchu. It really is incredible, awe-inspiring, majestic, mystical and more..... The site itself sits on the top of a mountain, but it is also surrounded by stunning jagged peaks. We spent hours wandering around, picnicking and enjoying just being there. I wish that we had the opportunity to have been shown around by a shaman guide though. Our fellow was informative and historically sound but he didn't delve into the rituals and spiritual beliefs of the Incas and that element of the culture is fascinating and you could definitely feel something spiritual about the place.

My photo doesn't do it justice, but in the mountain behind Machu Picchu - can you see the profile of a face w a big nose. It is looking up to the sky.

Who expected llamas to be there, just hanging out and walking around?

When you are in the know, apparently the mountain talks to you, as do the birds! And the Incan understanding of astronomy was incredible, there was a stone in the shape of the southern cross and when a compass was placed on it it pointed exactly North South. There is also a mountain to the East where the sun rises on the June 20th and another to the south where it rises six months later to the day, so they could measure the year. As well as lots of other incredible stuff like temples and water fountains. It is a truly an incredible place.

At the end of a big day. Thankyou Machu Picchu.