DAY 5

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Woke up really early as we had a 6 am flight to Cusco. Checked out off Samay Wasi and off we went, the plane ride to Cusco was fantasic, the sun was just waking up as well and casting a weird and beautiful glow on everything. Looking below we could see cotton wool clouds and the Andes snow covered peaks peeping out now and again. Just too beautiful for words.

Got picked up again from the airport, courtesy of backpacker hostel we were staying at (Samay Wasi). Not one's to waste time, we checked and went off to explore the beautiful city around us.

WOW was all I could think, the narrow alleys, the new town being built on the old Inca walls, the weathered faces of the locals. It was all too beautiful. Also we noticed that the people here had a more Indian look than the people we had come across in Lima. Again we went explored the town plazas (were the locals hang out), so we went to Saint Blas square (beautiful church in the square) and then on to Plaza Mayor, more stunning old churches and locals dressed in their Sunday best for church. Coming down to the city square was also easy the climbing back up was left us breathless, it was hard work and we were so unfit!!! Must work out more.....Yeah Right =) On the way back we found the elusive "twelve corned stone" we had been looking for, right next to the guy dressed up in his Inca gear and getting photos with tourist in return for money. Amazing though how the corners of the stones fit so perfectly with the adjoining stone corners. The other amazing thing to us was the narrowness of the streets, it was obviously not designed to cater for cars =0 So everytime two cars met in the street from opposite directions, one would have to reverse all the way out. Some are become one way streets now. Pavement on the side for pedestrians was so narrow, strangers just kept brushing past.

We did also manage to find some handicraft markets to enjoy - the colours, patterns and smiles on the vendors faces were all amazing. In the evening just hung out on the balcony at the hostel. The view was fantastic. In front of us we had the city view, behind us to the right we could see the Saqsaywaman Ruins all light up and behind us to the left we had a huge statue to Jesus (overlooking and protecting Cusco).

I loved the place from the minute we landed.

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Photos

Andes
Snow covered Andes peaks peeping out from below the clouds.

Old city wall
Me in front of the old city wall in Cusco.

City Wall in Street
The amazing stonework in the walls along the Cusco street.

Plaza Mayor
Anshu at Plaza Mayor

Anshu at the market
Handicraft market with old Inca walls.

Craft store
Many of these on the main streets and avenues of Cusco

Handicraft market
Rick, bright colours is all you see with bold patterns.

Restaurant
Me at the quaint little restaurant we found to have lunch

Anshu at the art market
Beautiful paintings behind

Twelve Cornered Stone
Finally found it after looking everywhere for it - amazing.

Cusco and I
Me standing in a Cusco street.