Cuzco

Cuzco is the oldest continuously inhabited city in all of South America. It was also the capital of the Incan Empire. Around the main plaza, the Plaza de Armas, there are churches and cathedrals that were built anywhere from the 1500s to the 1700s. Cuzco is much cleaner than most of the other cities we´ve been to (at least the downtown touristy part) and it had a much better feel. The tourist crowd was not just hippie backpackers, but lots of families and wealthier travelers.

We arrived in Cuzco Tuesday evening and spent all of Wednesday exploring the city. We left this morning to head closer to Machu Picchu.

 Plaza de Armas

 Cathedral on the plaza

Iglesia de la Compañia de Jesús, also right on the plaza



 This is the oldest Inca wall in Cuzco. Notice how modern buildings have been built right on top of the existing Inca walls.

 Another great example... Inca stones on bottom, Colonial stones in the middle and modern bricks on top.

 This is the famous 12-sided stone. See it? This stone was part of the palace of the sixth Inca ruler, Roca. It was amazing to see how perfectly the Inca stones fit together. I guess that´s why they´ve lasted 700 years.

Cuzco came at a great time for us. Just as we were getting extremely tired of Bolivian/Peruvian cuisine (chicken with rice, rice with chicken), we found Jack´s Cafe. Because Cuzco sees so many international tourists, you can find just about any type of food you´re in the mood for. Jack´s had all kinds of food that reminded us of home. I had nachos and Seth had incredible french toast from the breakfast-all-day menu. Yummmm. It was just what we needed. I am also ashamed to say that we went to the McDonald´s... twice! Don´t judge us.



 Nachos!

Seth in McDonald´s looking over ever-changing itinerary. This last part of the trip has been more difficult to plan since we are getting close to the end. Only 25 days to fit three more countries in!

Next up, Machu Picchu!