Arrived in Cusco

Chuck and Chadd arrived in Cusco today, altitude approximately 10,000 feet.  Today was a "get acclimated to the weather" day.  Nevertheless, we saw some amazing sites in Cusco already.  We had to be out of the hotel at 6am and so only slept about 4 hours--we were both very tired.  However, with the amount of coca that they give around here in the form of leaves or candy or tea, C&C were just fine at altitude and made a day of it.

While the rest of the tour rested up a bit, we went out on the town, as we seem to do.  We were searching for a local travel agent of sorts since our tickets were for Machu Picchu alone and we both want to climb Huayna Picchu.  Anyway, we were walking down a pathway when we came across some bodegas selling a little bit of everything.  At that, Chadd motioned to an alleyway and, when we looked, there they were--the polygonal megaliths that look like a Giant's Jigsaw Puzzle or something;  absolutely remarkable to see with your own eyes and touch with your own hands.

We walked through there and then headed back to the hotel to meet up with the group as Brien Foerster would be doing a 3 hour guided tour of Cusco, including the Coricancha (Qorikancha) and a local Cusco museum with elongated skulls.  The Coricancha took everything to another level.  The engineering that went into building this is phenomenal.  There are blocks up to 6 feet thick and cut perfectly all the way through.  They are interlocked and designed to be "earthquake proof".  We then headed to the museum to see the elongated skulls.  Some were similar in anatomical structure to the ones we saw in Paracas and that are around the world, unfortunately, sometimes in private hands.

After the museum we were starving as we really hadn't eaten all day.  We were looking for Paddy's Pub, the highest altitude 100% Irish Owned Pub (spoiler alert: we weren't overwhelmed at all!).  Anyway, we ended up eating at a nearby irish pub--wasn't bad, and then headed to the hotel where we decided to just stay in.  However, after we realized that these formations and structures we've been reading about for so long were just blocks from our hotel, we just had to go out again.  We have photos (big trouble loading at this hotel right now so videos and photos will come as soon as we can get good internet) of us out tonight on these streets/alleyways, having them pretty much to ourselves; it was an experience neither of us ever thought would be possible (figured they would be secured and difficult or impossible to access).

All in all, a great first day here in Cusco.  We will travel tomorrow to see Tambo Machay, Puca Puccara, Amaru Machay, the Temple of the Monkeys, and one of our most desired sights to see: Sacsayhuaman.  This will be another altitude hike so hopefully we'll adjust; don't think we'll have a problem.  In addition to coca, they have oxygen available in the lobbies of the hotel and various places to deal with the altitude...but still makes ya wonder what that 1000 foot climb up to Huayna Picchu will feel like!