We woke up somewhat later today, but by 9 we were well on our way to the southern part of the valley where there are plenty of charming little towns. Our first stop was the Raqchi archeological site. It has an enormous temple, very well preserved, that is dedicated to Wiracocha. We also visited Pikillacta, an enormous Pre-Incan city where they have found a large quantity of nearly intact human remains. In Quechua, the name means city of fleas. Still don’t quite know why.
We also toured Andahuaylillas and saw its beautiful Spanish Colonial church, filled on the inside with lovely paintings from the Cuzco School. It is called the Sistine Chapel of the Americas because its walls and ceiling have been richly painted. Our last stop was Tipon where they terraced the upper slopes and installed canals and fountains. The Incas certainly had a gift for hydraulic engineering… what they were able to accomplish without modern tools and knowledge is simply amazing.
Back in Cuzco, we spent some time in the neighborhood of San Blas. It has a very laid back feel about it and is a hub for artists, with shops full of typically Peruvian handicrafts.
That night, we were invited to see a show performed by the Kusikay theater group. Colorful and featuring Andean music, but mainly full of humor and laughter. We had a phenomenal time. Later, we ate at the restaurant Incanto… which left us… Incanted (enchanted)!
