We have now arrived in Cusco stopping off point for Machu Picchu. It is over 3,500m above sea level and so we are drinking coca tea to ward off altitude sickness. We are staying at the Casa Andina Catedral right in the main square for eight nights, the longest we have stayed anywhere. We have bought a Cusco Tourist Ticket which gives us access to 16 of the museums and ruins in and around the city. We spent yesterday exploring the magnificent cathedral and a museum of contemporary art and RM finished off his day wth alpaca stroganoff (HJ had lasagne)!
Cucso is just about at the end of the Rainy Season, which is due to finish at the beginning of April, but so far the weather has been kind to us athough there have been some very dramatic skies. At least it is much drier than the rainforest. Our first job on arrival here was to invest in a big hotel laudry session as our clothes were both wet and, er, wiffy.
We have ventured further afield today and took a taxi to Tambo Machay 8km away. We then had a fabulous return walk taking in Inca ruins at Puca Pucara, Qenko and Sacsayhuaman (known locally as Sexy Woman). We also hiked up to their version of Christ the Redeemer, Cristo Blanco which provided fabulous views of Cusco. It was then an easy 20 minute walk back down to the main square. Bearing in mind how far we walked, we managed to make most of it downhill. We rewarded ourselves with lunch in Paddy Flaherty's Irish Pub, the highest Irish owned pub in the world! Included on Paddy's menu is the one thing we have been really missing, a roast dinner with mash and gravy, and so I suspect it will not be our first visit!
The Sacred Valley beckons tomorrow.
Cucso is just about at the end of the Rainy Season, which is due to finish at the beginning of April, but so far the weather has been kind to us athough there have been some very dramatic skies. At least it is much drier than the rainforest. Our first job on arrival here was to invest in a big hotel laudry session as our clothes were both wet and, er, wiffy.
We have ventured further afield today and took a taxi to Tambo Machay 8km away. We then had a fabulous return walk taking in Inca ruins at Puca Pucara, Qenko and Sacsayhuaman (known locally as Sexy Woman). We also hiked up to their version of Christ the Redeemer, Cristo Blanco which provided fabulous views of Cusco. It was then an easy 20 minute walk back down to the main square. Bearing in mind how far we walked, we managed to make most of it downhill. We rewarded ourselves with lunch in Paddy Flaherty's Irish Pub, the highest Irish owned pub in the world! Included on Paddy's menu is the one thing we have been really missing, a roast dinner with mash and gravy, and so I suspect it will not be our first visit!
The Sacred Valley beckons tomorrow.
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