Excellent Adventure 2016 Day 10 - Back in Cuzco

Our hotel in Cuzco -  Palacio del Inca - is a converted hacienda. Basically a huge, huge house. With the best wifi since we've been in Peru! Woohoo!

After breakfast we climbed back into the three vans to visit the archeological site Saksaywaman - thought to be an amphitheater for big events. This site showed off the Inca stone cutting skills:

The  zig-zag pattern of th stones represents the hair on a puma's head:

Fortunately, all this walking was very slow and very flat, which made it easier to keep up with the group. 

Back in the van, we drove to a great spot to see the city of Cuzco from above:

Our next two stops were Cuzco churches. The first is the Church of San Blas, most famous for the intricately carved pulpit. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take photos.

Next stop was the cathedral in the Plaza de Armas:

Once again, photography was allowed. One of the most striking items was the Peruvian version of The Last Supper - with a roasted Guinea pig on the table! Another piece was a statue of Jesus that has darkened over the ages to a very dark brown. This Jesus was paraded through the city during times of earthquakes. 

Every Sunday the Plaza de Armas is closed to automobile traffic, with marching bands and parades, and a ton of people:

While we watched some of the commotion, Danny handed out delicious tamales:

Walking back to the hotel was slow. Though I was doing better than I had expected, the hilly and cobble stoned streets slowed me to a snail crawl - for the entire 4 blocks. 

Back at the hotel, we listened to Peter Frost, a world renowned expert on the Inca. Sorry, I didn't take notes, but it was fascinating, particularly their invention of their counting system - the tied knots in quipu.

For lunch we decided to try a recommended restuarant called Papacho's. This meant walking back up the hilly cobblestone streets to the plaza de Armas. I almost made it all the way up the hill before needing a break! Woohoo! 

When we opened the door to Papacho', we saw a huge staircase to the 2nd floor. Nope, not happening.

So instead we went next door to Meson Don Tomas. The food was excellent. The waitress was dressed in typical dress and a folk band performed while we ate. Since we bought their CD (all of $10 that goes directly to the performers), they offered to take a photo with us:

Of course, after lunch we had to toddle back to the hotel for the next activity - so back down the hilly cobblestoned street. Here it is:

Luckily, the next activity was right across the street to see the Qoricancha Inca Temple, while thunderstorms threatened over head.

For dinner, we walked as a group to the Inca Grille restuarant - back up the hilly cobblestoned street and across the Plaza de Armas. And of course we were seated on the second floor.

The food was great, the conversation was great, a wonderful time was had by all - and then once again back across the Plaza de Armas:

And back down the hilly cobblestoned street. Basically, I had run out of steam by then, which is why this blog is a day late.

For Monday - Cuzco is not a high enough elevation. On to Puno and Lake Titicaca!