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So today is our last (whole) day in Cusco, we've had a good time here - chilled out and tried to beat this traveller's bug, but have no succeeded 100%, we're much much better than we were though :)
Yesterday we slept in late and had a lazy brunch before heading up on the hills above Cusco to Saqsaywaman. This Is the remains of the defense walls of an incan city. So, originally the Inca (king) who founded Cusco decided that he wanted it to be shaped like a puma. So Saqsaywaman is the head of the puma. Nowadays it's a ruin that's about 2kms up the hills from Cusco town square. Now THAT was a climb that really took it out of us!!
Saqsaywaman was built by the Incas between 1431-1508 and all the rocks fit together without mortar or any type of 'glue'/sticking substance. They literally shaved off the rock to make them fit together like a giant jigsaw puzzle. Interestingly, in this city there's the 'jaws' of the puma, so you can see the zig-zag off the 'teeth'. It's really amazing to see the work they've done - it's just crazy! Some of the rocks weigh up to 70 tons! We have no idea how they got them up there.
After a look around Saqsaywaman, we went further up the hill to Q'enqo. Q'enqo is the religious centre that went with Sawsaywaman, it's about 1.5kms further up the hill and it's a much smaller, less developed site but really cool in it's own way. You can see a cave there where they've built an alter and a table that was used in fertility rites.
Sadly, both these sites and Incan sites within Cusco itself have been used by the Spaniards as quarries to get rock to build churches/houses. In the photo above, you can see one incan site that has been built upon by the Spaniards - ironically they turned the sacred Incan spot for housing the virgins into a convent... so not a huge change ;-)
Today, Friday, we went to a museum of contemporary art - bit of a let down, there's really not much there. They did have a great display from a group of artisan furniture makers, who did amazing work. Good thing that we are flying home cuz I would have like to get a lot of their work.... dining table and chairs don't really fit in my backpack though!
This afternoon (our time) was the opening ceremony for the Olympics. So we went up to Paddy's Irish Bar to watch the opening ceremony (it's a sports bar/irish bar). It was great - i'm sure you've all seen highlights so we won't harp on about it - but it was lots of fun to watch it with a bunch of people our age who got the same cultural references. Was hilarious to hear some of the American's commenting on it - a bit lost in translation - ohhhh Mr. Bean! Right..... but we had fun.
tomorrow morning we're off bright and early on the train to Aguas Calientes which will be our base for exploring Macchu Picchu on Sunday! Can't wait!!
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