Cusco

today is a free resting day in Cusco at 3,400 meters, and the weather is intermittent showers which is unusual.

 

This morning our guide took us on a walking tour of the old city, unfortunately many of the Inca buildings were destroyed by the Spanish or they built their new churches on top of the old Inca temples. The original Inca temples were covered in gold and some walls still remain, and many of the buildings are built from the stones taken from the Inca buildings.

 

In the afternoon we explored the rest of Cusco and visited the Inca Saksaywaman fortress ruins which amazed me with the quality and size of the stonework which must have been impressive when the Spanish first came here.