In Cusco

Friday May 3rd

                                                              

This was a day off the bikes. We slept in until 8 and then went to breakfast at the hotel. Every hotel has given us breakfast, some better than others. This is a large intercity hotel and the breakfast was great.

Our leader, who used to live here, met us at 9 for walking tour of the city.. I felt pretty good this morning but Jan was still not feeling too good. I went with out her.

This city is very interesting. As the center of the Inca kingdom it all started here. There are fountains, plazas, huge murals and statues of Inca accomplishments. The Spanish conquered in 1535 and things were never the same. Even though whole power structure since then has been of Spanish decent Peruvians do not really like the Spanish. All the designs have a heavy Inca influence and represent their Gods and idols. The Spanish took many of the Inca palaces and temples, put bell towers on them and called them churches which they remain today. The more amazing stonework was done. Huge blocks are perfectly joined with no cracks between them and no mortar was used. They have held up for over 700 years through weather and earthquakes. The block I am standing by has 12 corners

This is real tourist destination. There are tourists everywhere from everywhere and all the vendors that follow them including street venders and cute Peruvian women and girls with their lamas. You can take their photo for one sol; about 40 cents.

Our tour group had a good lunch and I ate something substantial for the first time in 4 days. I went back to the hotel and Jan was feeling better too. Her outlook on this trip is improving. We took a bus tour of the city and then ate dinner and she ate some real food too. I think we are back in form.  

Tomorrow we have our first of two days heading east to our Amazon jungle camp. Our leader (and this tour company) has never been on this road. It should be interesting.