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Published: September 4th 2007
We are back in our own clothes and have moved on to Cuzco. It sounds like the photos of the traditional dress were a hit. I also noted that one of Cath's friends is over the moon that she is probably taller than Jousta.
We took the train from Puno to Cuzco which took about 3 hours more than the bus, but is a much nicer way to travel. We were sat with a couple on honeymoon that were on the islands with us and played about 500 games of "shithead" (card game). We won most of them, and they almost had a break up ha ha ha! The journey was great. Fantastic scenery and when we passed through a town, we quite often went through the main street. It was really funny to go through markets and past shops in a train while everyone waited for us. Cars at the intersections etc
Cuzco is a beautiful city built mostly by the Spaniards using Inca stones. It is quite amazing how precise the stonework is and the level of earthquake resistance (compared to the Colonial stuff). At one place we saw a 14 angled stone in a door way all
Saqsaywaman
Check out the curves (thats the rock not fatboy!)carved and very precise. It makes the wall that I helped build on the farm look like a play school attempt, ouch!!! (although I´ll bet it´s earthquake-proof too thanks to 200 tons of concrete).
Just outside of Cuzco is another set of Inca ruins - Saqsaywaman. Only 20% remains of this site as the Spanish dismantled it to build their city Cuzco). This place was still amazing and the size of some of the stones is mind boggling. One of them weighs 300 tonnes and this was all knocked up about 500-600 years ago. The way they fit together is astonishing. Even Jason (my older brother) would be impressed at the workmanship. We found a natural slide which is polished by hundreds of years of backsides zooming down it. There were grown ups and kids playing on it, me being one of them.
We spent a day at Pisac, and walked up to the ruins from the market only 600m vertical from Pisac though a total of 5 kms. Pretty impressive. We both ate Cuy (Guinea Pig) at one of the market stalls by accident! Cath took it in her stride when I informed her that the food
The laydeez at Pisac market
Just a nice colourful market, everyone was happy and relaxed, no pressure to buy! we were eating contained Cuy, although she stopped eating after that (bad vegetarian!). It looked like its entrails but tasted OK. We actually went into a kitchen in the Colca Canyon and the woman there had a Guinea Pig family in there eating the scraps and getting fatter for the pot ha ha ha ha. They were quite cute though. Cath still sees them as big rats.
We have really enjoyed Cuzco (great gringo food), even including choosing a hostel on the steepest most slippery street in town. Check out the crazy old woman with the alpaca. She is always outside our hostel and every time she sees us she shouts "POTO". Scary!!!
Tomorrow we are off to trek Machu Picchu. Its something Cath has wanted to do for years (from before she met me). We are both excited but a little nervous, as we have heard day 2 is quite harsh at 4200m and lets just say we have eaten well on this trip!
I know we are blogging a lot but theres so much to see!!
Richard
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Pru
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Wow
Like Cath, always wanted to do Machu Pichu, so looking forward to next instalment. Amazing blog, especially when you read it all in one, like I've just done. Envy you your stamina.