A Day in Cusco

At over 11,000 feet above sea level, Cusco is the starting point for the journey to Machu Picchu. We arrived early this morning after pulling an all nighter. The flight took us over the Peruvian Andes so I was too excited to sleep and had to take in the view.

Upon arriving (without hotel reservations), we were bombarded at the airport by hotel operators. I spotted the Casa Andina chain, a brand I recognized from my days working in tourism here, and asked if they had a travel agent discount. Thankfully, the hotel (click here to see how historical it is) had a less than 50% occupancy rate, and they gave me a substantial discount for a room, and then subsequently upgraded us to a suite with pumped in oxygen (which you need for your body to adjust to the high altitude) at no additional cost. So, we got a $300 US suite for just $125 including tax and breakfast.

Well, all the tourbooks were right about how quickly the altitude affects your body. Within 30 minutes after arriving, even after taking altitude sickness pills and drinking two cups of mate de coca (tea made with cocaine leaves), I still felt dizzy after walking at a brisk pace for just a few minutes. Being as hyper as I am, it was difficult to train my body to walk at a relaxed pace. Thankfully, the hotel is just 3 short blocks from the historic main square (Plaza de Armas) and the area is surrounded by churches and government buildings from the 1500's.

Near to the plaza is Coricancha, an old discovered Inca site at the base of a church that was originally used as a temple of the sun by the Incas. After the Spanish invasion, the gold in the building was pilfered. After a visit here, we went to an artesan's market where they have handmade pants for $5 US, hats made from alpaca for only $3 US and alpaca socks for $2 US. I ended up buying a hat, some pants and a beautiful handmade alpaca rug for my living room, featured in one of the photos above.

Tomorrow, we will hit up some of the museums and finish shopping, followed by a gastronomic tour (the first day here you have to eat only light foods and abstain from alcohol - que horrible para mi!). Enjoy the photos.