Cusco: Who knew rocks could be so interesting

Back in Cusco, but this time with a way better hostal. Found Hospedaje Inka in the book and on a whim of an email got a double room with breakfast and private bath for about 9CAD. Big breakfast too, eat all you want which is kind of strange after getting a tiny bun and butter from other breakfast included places. Has a nice little garden overlooking the city and free use of the kitchen (which we made use of with a pasta medley and more than one box of wine last night).

We have spent time relaxing and paying off our Inka Trail money (sigh)...

Yesterday took a local bus to some ruins north of Cusco by 8km. The first ruin was Tambomachay, followed by Pukapukara, Qenko and Sacsayhuaman (say it with me.. Sexy woman).

Tambomachay is believed to be a water/bathing site, possibly for rituals and was built around 1500AD by the Inka's. Close by (five minutes down the road) was Pukapukara, which is a comanding fort built onto the top of a hill. It has many walls and rooms remaining and was thought to have been used for either rituals or lodging.

A few more kilometers on our way back to Cusco was the rock of Qenko (means labryinth) and is a large rock which has been erroded over time by water and has several alters and many stairs carved into it. It also has a cave underneath it with more stairs... Apparently there were animals carved onto the top of it.. but we couldn't pick them out.

Wandering further we came to the immense ruins of Sacsayhuaman, which has 33 archeological sites and probably more coming as they are currently excavating. The Inkan's invisioned the city of Cusco in the shape of a giant Puma and Sacsayhuaman was to be the head. Giant walls remain which are in a zigzag pattern and were meant to symbolise the teeth of the Puma. When the Spanish arrived they pillaged Sacsayhuaman for stones to build their houses, and now only 20% of the site remains. It is incredible to look at the tight stone work without mortar, some of the stones wight more than 120 tons.

Tomorrow we leave for our 4D, 3N Inka Trail hike, which should be interesting b/c rainy season has fully hit and every day is a combination of burning sun and brooding black rain clouds.