My Life in Ruins

---

Okay, after the tedious task of restoring my earlier blogs, I am now ready to post new pictures! I know I am way behind in posting photos, so I will try to resist adding loads of text, which tends to slow me down. Enjoy!

---

Photos

Sacsayhuamán 1
This ruin stands on a hill high above Cusco. The site served as both a fortress and a place of religious observance. This was also the site of a great rebellion against the Spanish led by Manco Inca. (By the way, Inca means king.) Manco very nearly defeated the Spanish but was finally routed by a final desperate charge of Spanish cavalry. Manco fled to the fortress of Ollantaytambo. Meanwhile, the Spanish pulled down a great many stones of Sacsayhuamán and used them to build their own buildings below in Cusco.

Cristo Blanco
This is the famous Cristo Blanco as seen from the ruins of Sacsayhuamán. The Cristo Blanco overlooks Cusco from a hill high above. I´ve been told it was a gift from Rio de Janeiro, where you will find the larger and more famous Cristo Redentor - now one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Below and to the left of the Cristo Blanco you can also see the famous Bronco Blanco.

Sacsayhuamán 7
Apparently, this part of the ruins functioned as a calendar/observatory and served a role in religious worship.

Chad at Sacsayhuamán
Over my right shoulder you can see the Plaza de Armas.

Sacsayhuamán 12
The zig-zag walls of Sacsayhuamán were designed so that attackers approaching one wall had to expose their flank to an another wall. Clever. The walls were also intended to form the ¨teeth¨ of a giant puma whose outline could be viewed from above - presumably by the gods.

Sacsayhuamán 14
These carved and polished steps are know as the Inca´s Throne.

Comments

[Todd]

Wow....
Wow, how old is that? Not the ruins...the blanco bronco? We are enjoying the updates and pictures. Safe travels! We love you, Todd and Family