Cusco and the Sacred Valley

We went on a Cusco tour after our arrival in Cusco.  I saw this door on our tour; not something of interest to our guide, but I could tell it was very, very old.  Perhaps not as old as when the Spaniards "conquered" Cusco in 1532, but very old nonetheless.

One of the cathedrals by the main square

The Dominican Order, built upon the Incan Temple del Sol

Where the Dominican priests live.  The foundation is part of the Incan temple

Another cathedral, on one of the side of the main square

A painting on the side of the courtyard of the Domincan chapel

A wall laid by the Incans.  Note that there was no cement; just perfectly laid granite blocks

Andean family on the side of the road

Sam, Ruth and Shelly at our first Incan ruin, P'isaq

A view from the temple P'isaq

Ruth and Shelly

Sam and Ruth, with a view from the P'isaq ruin

The P'isaq Ruin

Sam and Ruth from the ruins at Ollantaytambo

Large granite blocks in the Ollantaytambo ruin.  Note the small lines of blocks between the large; designed to help the Incan temple withstand earthquakes

From the top of Ollantaytambo

Ruth at Ollantaytambo

One of the towns along the way in the Sacred Valley.  You can see one of the snow covered Andes mountains in the background

Ruth and Sam ready to board the train to Aguascalientes, where Machu Picchu is located (one can only get there walking or by train).  Be sure and look for the next post!