The Sacred Valley

When we first arrived in Cusco, we didn’t spend much time there. We would have several days in Cusco after our hike to Machu Picchu, and so in the day before our trek we explored other ruins in the Sacred Valley (basically the area between Cusco and Machu Picchu).

First, we took a colectivo to Pisac, about an hour from Cusco. It is a small town below high ruins, used before and during Inca time. It was an interesting minibus ride. About half the way there, we picked up quite a few Quechua women. One old woman plopped down on my lap during when it got really crowded, and a younger woman put her baby on me so that she could readjust her clothing for breastfeeding. Can’t imagine that will ever happen to me again!

Once we got to Pisac, we took a S/25 taxi up to the top of the ruins. There were living areas, terraces, and robbed cemeteries for the viewing. I was struggling with a too-quickly-beating heart (altitude?), so I didn’t enjoy this site as much as I should have.

Some ruins and terraces at Pisac

Steps between terraces

Ruins from another angle

Check out that stone work! No mortar, either.

Ruins on the other side of the mountain.

Tired of ruins yet? This is just the first site!

 It took us several hours to hike down to Pisac, where there was a market, ice cream, and a colectivo back towards Cusco. On the ride to Cusco, our vehicle was stopped by the Peruvian National Police, and several IDs were requested. They must have been looking for someone. We were allowed to continue after several minutes of waiting. Just down the road, about a mile outside of Cusco, my family requested to get off so that we could see Cusco from above.

The city of Cusco

A close-up of Cusco's Plaza de Armas

Nearby the overlook is Sacsayhuamán, a site with more Inca ruins. Sacsayhuamán means “satisfied falcon” in Quechua. The place was given this name after a battle between the Quechua people (the Incas) and the Spaniards, which left a lot of bodies as carrion for falcons. We don’t know what the original Quechua name was for the place, but it was the head of the puno-shape that was the Inca’s Cusco. It is also the sight for Inti Raymi, an annual Quechua ceremony to the sun. The coolest thing about this place is that the stones they Inkas used in the construction are ENORMOUS.

Holy cow, Incas! Break up some of them rocks!

See how nicely those rocks fit? I love that. Everyone does, of course. That's why these places are famous.

Checking out the many sides on this particular rock. These ain't no Legos, folks.