We met the rest of our tour group in Lima and we all flew to Cusco, the original capitol city of the Inca empire and site of many battles between the Incas and the Spanish conquistadors. Most of the Inca temples were destroyed and their foundations used to construct Catholic churches. Close inspection of this picture shows how a Spanish arch was attached to an Inca wall.
The Incas used no plaster and the blocks fit perfectly. Here are some of the hidden surfaces that show how the Inca walls were able to withstand several centuries of earthquakes.
Sacsayhuaman is the site of ruins of an Inca fortress that overlooks the city of Cusco. This was the site of fierce battles between the Inca and Spanish armies. Some of the stones weigh up to 128 tons. The smaller stones were added in recent years to stabilize the ancient walls. The fortress was surrounded by three concentric walls, each about 20 feet high, with three towers inside these massive walls.
We were fortunate to be in Cusco on Sunday, February 22. We witnessed a huge celebration featuring parades and feasts. This was not a display for tourists, but a celebration for the citizens of Cusco.
The celebration includes people of all ages. The younger set uses water baloons and foam to attack each other.
On our way to Machu Picchu we spent two nights in the Urubamba region. Here we learned about llamas and how its wool is used. Wool is washed with soap made from roots and dyed with natural ingredients.
Overseas Adventure Travel encouraged us to interact with the locals, and here we are helping to harvest quinoa.
More Inca ruins at Ollantaytambo, site of more battles between the Incas and Spanish.
The village nearby contains streets and walls that are still functional.
Machu Picchu at last! We were delighted that we could visit on two consecutive days. The first day we arrived just as most of the large crown was leaving. It was a beautiful day. The remarkable thing about Machu Picchu is that it was never found by the Spanish, so no temples were destroyed and replaced with Catholic churches. Here is our first view of this remarkable location.
On the second day, we visited early in the morning. Several of us did two hikes. First to intipunka or sun gate, then to the draw bridge. The second day was overcast, but as we got to the sun gate the clouds opened just enough for a good view of the ruins. Here you see a part of the Inca trail and the road from the valley below.
A second short hike led to the draw bridge, where timber could be pulled away to prevent intruders from entering the city. Luckily this part of the trail was closed, so no need to keep my balance walking across these timbers!
Next: Ecuador and the Galapagos