Lima to Cusco
5/11/2018 Easing into the Elevation
Cusco factoids:
- the city is 10,909 ft. above sea level
- 500 yrs. ago it was the thriving capital of the Inca Empire
- Pizarro & the Spanish Conquistadors invaded the city in 1538
6 AM departure time from our hotel to the Lima airport to catch our morning flight to Cusco. When we arrive at the Jose Antonio Hotel, we have a meeting to discuss our itinerary for today and tomorrow and get a start on adapting to the altitude of 11,154 feet.
Our first step is to have some coca tea; purchase some coca candy for tomorrow's exploration of the Inka archaeological site, "Saqsayhuaman;" and load up on water for hydration.
What does coca tea taste like? Reminds me of green tea with a few twigs added for a woody aftertaste. What does coca candy taste like? I am reminded of the hardtack candy we used to get at Christmas time - you know, the pieces with a gross-tasting, gummy insides? Not especially worth spitting out, but pretty close to it.
We enjoyed a wonderful lunch just a few doors away at Restaurant Yuraq before starting our city tour. I chose the mashed potatoes with grilled fish, onions, yellow pepper, vinegar and oregano as my appetizer; zucchini stuffed with vegetable ragu with a risotto with herbs for the main course; and ice cream with honey of cappuccino for dessert. And I started my beer tasting with a wonderful Cusco beer - Cusquena Gold Lager.
Apparently Peruvians enjoy their large meal at lunch time with just a small snack or leftovers at dinner. I was so full from this lunch that I could only manage to finish a most incredible avocado dish served as an appetizer for dinner. Of course it didn't help that dinner included rice AND french fries! I can never understand the attraction of so much starch on one plate.
One thing you can say about Peruvian restaurants is that the presentation of their food is extremely artistic. I really hated to mess up this appetizer by eating it.
With full stomachs, we began our city tour and orientation walk via the Avenue El Sol. The first object to catch our eye was the Inka mural and waterfall just a couple of blocks away.
Our first stop was a visit to Qorikancha, a religious Inka building that has been the most important and holy place of the Incas and home to the Convent de Santo Domingo del Cusco. In front of the church is part of an original black wall constructed by the Incas in the 1400s, and pretty much the only portion to survive the mid 18th century earthquake.
We continue next to the Plaza de Armas, the main square and colonial center of Cusco. This is home to the Cathedral and the church The Compania de Jesus. There are numerous shops, restaurants and pubs. In the center of the square is the statue of Pachacuti, the 9th ruler of the kingdom of Cusco and later the Emperor of the Inca Empire.
Cusco factoids:
- the city is 10,909 ft. above sea level
- 500 yrs. ago it was the thriving capital of the Inca Empire
- Pizarro & the Spanish Conquistadors invaded the city in 1538
6 AM departure time from our hotel to the Lima airport to catch our morning flight to Cusco. When we arrive at the Jose Antonio Hotel, we have a meeting to discuss our itinerary for today and tomorrow and get a start on adapting to the altitude of 11,154 feet.
Our first step is to have some coca tea; purchase some coca candy for tomorrow's exploration of the Inka archaeological site, "Saqsayhuaman;" and load up on water for hydration.
What does coca tea taste like? Reminds me of green tea with a few twigs added for a woody aftertaste. What does coca candy taste like? I am reminded of the hardtack candy we used to get at Christmas time - you know, the pieces with a gross-tasting, gummy insides? Not especially worth spitting out, but pretty close to it.
We enjoyed a wonderful lunch just a few doors away at Restaurant Yuraq before starting our city tour. I chose the mashed potatoes with grilled fish, onions, yellow pepper, vinegar and oregano as my appetizer; zucchini stuffed with vegetable ragu with a risotto with herbs for the main course; and ice cream with honey of cappuccino for dessert. And I started my beer tasting with a wonderful Cusco beer - Cusquena Gold Lager.
Apparently Peruvians enjoy their large meal at lunch time with just a small snack or leftovers at dinner. I was so full from this lunch that I could only manage to finish a most incredible avocado dish served as an appetizer for dinner. Of course it didn't help that dinner included rice AND french fries! I can never understand the attraction of so much starch on one plate.
One thing you can say about Peruvian restaurants is that the presentation of their food is extremely artistic. I really hated to mess up this appetizer by eating it.
With full stomachs, we began our city tour and orientation walk via the Avenue El Sol. The first object to catch our eye was the Inka mural and waterfall just a couple of blocks away.
Our first stop was a visit to Qorikancha, a religious Inka building that has been the most important and holy place of the Incas and home to the Convent de Santo Domingo del Cusco. In front of the church is part of an original black wall constructed by the Incas in the 1400s, and pretty much the only portion to survive the mid 18th century earthquake.
We continue next to the Plaza de Armas, the main square and colonial center of Cusco. This is home to the Cathedral and the church The Compania de Jesus. There are numerous shops, restaurants and pubs. In the center of the square is the statue of Pachacuti, the 9th ruler of the kingdom of Cusco and later the Emperor of the Inca Empire.
Cathedral and the church The Compania de Jesus
Shops, pubs and restaurants
(yes that sadly is a KFC anchoring the right corner).
Pachacuti
I am a sucker for fountain sculptures.
Our last stop on the way back to our hotel was a quick one to admire a colorful mural to large to fit in one photo. Basically its theme was one of man abusing the world he was given and other human beings, but in the end the gods and goodness winning.
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