Cusco, Peru

We arrived in the city of Cusco on the evening of May 20th. Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire, and it has an altitude of 3,400 metres. It is also a major tourist destination, as many people start in Cusco before heading over to Machu Picchu. I liked the city, it has old cobble stone streets and cute historical buildings. After the Spanish invaded the city in 1533 they brought their Spanish influence, and so the buildings have a mixture of Spanish and Inca architecture. Many of the Inca buildings were destroyed by the Spanish, but the Spanish used the walls and bases of the Inca buildings to construct other buildings. The Spanish also constructed many churches in their quest to spread Christianity through the region.

I visited a few sights in Cusco, but mainly it was also a city in which I was able to relax a bit after non-stop traveling! I was finally able to get some laundry done, and I also took one afternoon to pamper myself with a 1-hour massage.

We visited the Convent of Santo Domingo, which was built by the Spanish by using the structure of the Qurikancha temple, which was an important Incan sanctuary dedicated to the Sun God. I only have limited amount of photos from inside as most areas of the convent did not allow photography.

We also had the chance to visit a local market, which sold meats, fruits, clothing, and had stations where you could order food and benches to eat at.

 

The main square of Cusco is very pretty, with a fountain in the middle, and is surrounded by the Cathedral, and lots of touristy shops and restaurants.

The main square is also very alive at night, and you can see a great view of the cathedral.

Earlier in the day when I had been exploring the Convent of Santo Domingo I ran into my friend Mohit from Rotman (University of Toronto)! He was traveling through Peru, and I had no idea he was in Cusco! It was such a surprise! We agreed to meet up later to catch up. This was the second time I had run into someone while in Peru! First I ran into my cousin in Lima last week, and now Mohit! What a small world!

That evening we took a bartending lesson, and learned to make a delicious Peruvian drink with passion fruit.

 

Us with our drinks and our teachers:

The visit to Cusco was short, but I will be back in a few days and I’ll be able to see more once I return.