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Published: June 24th 2009
Recoleta Hostel in Cusco
Me outside of our Hostel in Cusco "Recoleta"We headed out of cusco to a little town called pisac around 1 half hours away by our mini bus and we also found another aussie to talk to as he was from swan hill and has been traveling for 3 months throughout south america and still has another 3 months to go before heading back to Oz.
We arrived at the pisac ruins and got a very good heads up by our Tour guide "Marc Anthony" (his spanish name none of us could pronounce) of the incas and how they built and survived for just over 100 years, (Jeff and I thought they reigned a lot longer than that).
Pisac ruins was the hub of the sacred valley for many people to pass through. The drive down was once again spectacular having the andes as the backdrop and the "Urambamba" river below, the life blood of the valley, Pisac is a nice little town where they are also famous for their markets and it was also the central hub for the Incas where they would head off either to Cusco, Ollayantambo or other places. The valley itself is very fertile and is self sufficient, therefore this was the
Pisac
One of the road side markets in Pisac central point for everything.
We stopped at a little hotel (is what you probably call it) to have a buffet meal, which was'nt crash hot but filled your stomach and there was some young playing the pan pipes to recorded 1980 love ballads who was so off key and was trying to sell his cds, the only good thing to come from that is when the power went off for 10 minutes .
After lunch we continued down the valley and stopped off at the ollantaytambo ruins, which is virtually just in town. This little town is incredible I think it looks like falls creek with all resorts put into one street , jeff thinks it is somewhere the hobbits live. It´s old yet has its own culture and distinctively unique. What an awesome little place and surrounded by the ruins and the andes, you could´nt get a picturesque place.
We went up to the ruins and the guide "Marc Anthony" showed us around and explained things for over an hour, jeff and I have never walked so many steps and steep hills in our life, (I new I should have done more exercise before leaving on this
Old Man
Old Peruvian man wanting a hand out trip).
These are by far the best ruins we have seen and it´s amazing how these people had the knowledge and know how to build this cities, they were so far advanced to other cultures in that era it is mind boggling actually, the others who would come close could be the romans.
Out hostel is fine but I think they may have overbooked, but that was ok because we ended up with a 4 bed dorm room, which is pretty new and us are the only two. Soft pillows, but would have to be the hardest mattress we have slept on...I was nearly going to sleep on the floorboards because they looked softer .
We headed out and got pizza, which was right next door, the same woman from the hostel owns the pizza place, in fact to get to our rooms you head through the Pizza place and out the back door up a few stairs and you their. Pizza here is made in wood fired ovens in the restaurant, as this helps keeps the the place warm as well. So after a few beers and pizza we decide to head off for the night as we have
Pisac Ruins
Shot of the Pisac ruins to be up at 4.30 to catch the train.
Very hard to beat jeff to sleep when he´s tired, he is out to it and snoring within 10 minutes, after awhile I kind of used to it and ear plugs are a blessing.
Floor is looking comfy...
the floorboards tomorrow machu picchu
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Leanne
non-member comment
You are obviously tired!
You are obviously exhausted as this blog makes the least sense of any heh heh heh. Go get some sleep you old Gringo! Love you xx