Cusco, Peru

After enjoying Machu Picchu, we took the train from Aguas Calientes to Cusco city.  I was surprised to learn that Cusco is at a higher altitude (11,200 feet) than Machu Picchu (7972 feet). To reduce altitude sickness, visitors to Peru start at the lower elevations at Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and then visit Cusco.

This view of Cusco is from the "Cristo Blanco" (White Jesus) statue at the outskirts of Cusco.
The open square at right center is the famous "Plaza de Armas".

Cusco was the capital of the Inca empire. In the native Quechua language, Cusco mean "the navel of the world". Many ancient cultures around the wold, selected a sacred place and called it the center or navel of the world.

By 1573, the Spanish had completely brought down the Inca empire. Most of the Spanish buildings we see in Cusco today were built over Inca buildings and palaces. On 21st May, 1950 when a 7.0 earthquake struck Cusco, it cleared the Spanish built facades and walls that had covered up the Inca engineered stonework for centuries. Much of the Inca stonework and walls we see today in Cusco were discovered due to this earthquake.

Old neighborhoods in Cusco have very narrow streets and reminded me of streets in India. On many streets, the Inca built foundation and walls are visible.

I loved the narrow inclined streets of Cusco. The Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel we stayed is located at an elevation above the rest of the city. Either by car or by walk you need to deal with steep inclined roads.

This truck driver was kind enough to back all the way down and let our van pass :)

The Plaza de Armas is a large and lively square always full of tourists and locals.

The Plaza de Armas is surrounded by beautiful Spanish stone arcades filled with craft shops and excellent restaurants.

   

The Spanish architecture and beautifully decorated and colorfully painted wooden balconies jutting over the plaza add a nice charm to Plaza de Armas.

Plaza de Armas

The construction of the Cathedral at the left started in 1560 and took over 100 years to build. The Jesuits' church, "Iglesia de la Compania" is at the right. The Sun was setting and cast a long shadow right in the middle of these two buildings, further enhancing and highlighting their beauty. I recommend viewing this photo in full screen mode.

The Iglesia de la Compania, the Jesuits' church.

  

The streets leading from Plaza de Armas to our hotel at the San Blas area are lined with craft and souvenir shops that sell anything and everything that a visitor to Peru need to buy :) hand bags, shoes, Llama and Alpaca sweaters, hats, Llama key chains, etc.

A street with the original Inca built walls.

Some tourists had a difficult time walking up the steep inclined streets ;)

Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel.
Though it looks like a simple house from the outside, the hotel and the rooms are
beautifully decorated and very comfortable.