FUN-travel: South America: Lima to Cusco, Peru
February 28, 2012 by Susan Clarke
Day 15 – Saturday, February 18 – Lima to Cusco, Peru – cloudy w/intermittent showers (never lasting more than 10 minutes) – mid 60’s
Cusco
- Bad News – only 5 hours of sleep
- Flight departs 9:30 am – get to airport 7:30
- Good News – ticket agent doesn’t weigh carryon bags
- Bad News – Baggage Nazi’s @ gate in full force! tell us they are checking our carryon bags – we both say “NO” repeatedly – after much arguing I start taking all of my personal items out to show her & finally she allows us
Not so FF – I HIGHLY RECOMMEND NOT FLYING LAN! I will only do so if it is the only airline available.
- Good News – arrive Cusco on time @ 10:45 am
- Bad News – total fiasco @ customs (once again – not enough staff)
- Good News – we are picked up by Metropolitan Touring – driver & English speaking guide
- Good news – Casa Andina San Blas Hotel is only 15 minutes – have time to eat light meal & acclimate to altitude of 11,150
- Good News – no headache or sickness – only a little light headed
- Bad News – tired & force myself to stay awake
- Good News – Danny our guide is wonderful! Doesn’t repeat everything
Saqsaywaman
- Good News – only half-day tour scheduled from 2 to 5 pm
- 1st stop – the main town square & Cathedral of Santo Domingo – incorporates the foundations and some walls of the Inca Temple of the Sun – and contained shrines to a variety of other gods – Incas regarded it as a sacred site and was used as an astronomical observatory.
- 2nd stop – Koricancha – important Incan temple destroyed by Spaniards who turned it into the Dominican Convent of Santo Domingo
- 3rd stop – Saqsaywaman – an Incan walled complex built at an altitude of 12,142 feet – it is the most common starting point for the three-day, four-night hike known as the Inca Trail
Dominican Convent of Santo Domingo
- 4th stop – Kenko – more ruins at top of hill – one of the largest holy places – naturally occurring rock formations – believed to be place where sacrifices and mummification took place
- Good News – Danny recommends Ciccolino for dinner & reserves for 7pm
- Good News – lay down for siesta
FF – (FUN-facts) – Cusco was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Really cute with European influence. Balconies & French doors with clay tile roofs and narrow cobblestone streets.