CUSCO

Our last stop on our trip to Peru was the city of Cusco. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was the capital of the Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest and now has a unique blend of Inca and Spanish cultures. We had almost two full days here before we started our 23 hour journey home, so we signed up for a city tour to see the important sites and spent our remaining time in the markets searching for alpaca blankets and other souvenirs.

Accommodation:  Maytaq Wasin Boutique Hotel

Adventures: Cathedral, Santo Domingo Monastery/Qoricancha, Saksaywaman, Qenko, Tambomachay

Takeaways: 1) The altitude is no joke. 2) The weather changes rapidly. 3) Cusco is hopping at night! 4) Inca walls have been incorporated into modern buildings, like banks. 5) The Cathedral is an impressive building. 6) The women and children dressed in traditional clothing expect payment for their photos. 7) There are more tourists in Cusco than Lima.

Memorable Moments: 1) Ordering coca tea. 2) Taking in the view of Cusco from Sacsayhuaman. 3) Tasting cuy. 4) Buying so many alpaca blankets! 

^^the 12 angle stone^^

^^sacsayhuaman^^

^^cuy, for photo purposes only^^

Foodstuff:

• Coca tea. It tastes like edamame and helps with the altitude. Stick to less than 3 glasses a day and avoid at bedtime.
• Cusquena beer.
• Cuy, fried or roasted guinea pig. It's a Peruvian delicacy. We weren't fans.

Restaurant Picks:

Breakfast/Lunch::
Jack's Cafe (all day breakfasts, big toastie sandwiches - no credit cards)
Choquechaka 209

Lunch::
Paddy's Irish Pub, "the highest Irish owned Pub on the planet" 
Plaza de Armas, Calle Triunfo 124

Dinner::
Nuna Raymi (Peruvian cuisine)
Calle Triunfo 356

Recommendations:
1) Pack sunblock and a raincoat. Bring warmer clothes for the higher altitude.
2) Acclimate to the altitude before hiking up ruins.