May in Peru, Part 2

May 21st, we explored the ruins of the Cuzco Valley including the Sacsayhuaman (sort of sounds like sexy woman for pronunciation help) Fortress overlooking the city of Cuzco, a pre-Inca architectural  masterpiece and other sights on our way to the city of Cuzco (sort of sounds like Costco) and our next hotel, the Libertador. The hotel was located fairly close to the main square so provided easy access to visit all the sights of the city.

Last view of hotel as we were on our way to Cusco

Patti at a viewpoint on our drive to Cusco

Stopped to learn differences between Alpacas and Llamas

Sacsayhuaman, altitude over 12,000 feet

Peruvian women and their Llamas or alpacas posing for a Sol

Statute of Christ on the hilltop

View of Cusco from Sacsayhuaman

Another view of Christ

Largest stone estimated to be 128 to 200 tons

Hotel Libertador Lobby

Weaving with wool, beautiful things

Cusco Plaza in the early evening

May 22nd we began with a visit to Temple of Qoricancha. The original walls and floors were once covered in sheets of solid gold and the courtyard filled with golden statutes.  We also visited the main square, the cathedral and and then made an excursion to the market. We had dinner at the Inca Grill and I tried a bite of someone's guinea pig, but couldn't bring myself to eat a whole one. I did try alpaca at our first hotel, the Sonesta Posada and it was very tasty.

Windows in walls so you can see from one end to the other

Courtyard

Temple is composed of many layers of construction, bottom is Incan

Cathedral on main square

Red bus group posing with our guide

Children's parade.nearly ever day there is a parade or activity of some sort

View of Temple and environs

Dinner anyone?

Lots of chicken feet here, must be a delicacy

Lots of dried meat for sale

Three little pigs

Cheese vendor a little on the bored side

Fruit seller...must be time for siesta

Purple corn, makes a delicious drink

Nuts, seeds and dried fruits

Bread for sale

Another picture of the Sun temple, really shows levels of arcitures

Night view of Temple

May 23rd was another travel day as we went to the airport to catch a flight to Puno, near Lake Titicaca. We flew into Juliaca high in the Andes and then traveled by bus to Puno and our hotel also called Hotel Libertador, Puno.