Fly to Cuzco (3,400 m / 11,200 ft), Check-In, City Walking Tour,
Cuzco Museo Sitio Qorikancha, Sitio Arqueológico Qorikancha
Cuzco (3,400 m / 11,200 ft), Peru
Above: Looking northeast at the skyline from the Plaza de Armas del Cusco (the main plaza).
Cuzco (often spelled Cusco for the Quechua word of Qusqu or Qosqo) is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region as well as the Cusco Province. In 2013, the city had a population of 435,114. Located on the eastern end of the Knot of Cuzco, its elevation is around 3,400 m (11,200 ft).
The site was the historic capital of the Inca Empire from the 13th until the 16th-century Spanish conquest. - Wikipedia
Cuzco, Peru - Hotel Check-In and a Walk About
Above Left: Courtyard of our Inkarri Hostel.
Above Right: The Balcony Room is our place of stay for the next few days.
Above Left: Looking down Calle Ccollacalle. Yes the name seems redundant.
Above Right: Looking up Calle Ccollacalle.
Above: La Cholita Cafe.
Above: Lunch.
Above Left: Sometimes it is new construction on old foundations, sometimes it is a faux look, but it is a common site.
Above Right: Walking uphill to the main plaza, see the homes on the hillside.
Above Left: The City, Country, and Province flags of Cuzco, Peru, at the Plaza de Armas del Cusco. Tower Hill behind to the right.
Above Right: Flag of the Cuzco Province which supports their roots in Tawantinsuyu, which means the Inka Empire in Quechua (their native language). It is also called the Rainbow Flag.
Above: Some of the Balconies of Cuzco (people actually use them).
Above Left: Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, Cuzco (on the main plaza). Of course, it was built directly on top of an Inca Place of Worship.
Above Right: Upper edifice of the Cathedral Basilica.
Inca Museum - Cuzco Museo Sitio Qorikancha
Above: If I understand correctly, the Museum exists in place as a former Inca Administrative Center that has been preserved by constructing a weatherproof edifice around the Inka Structure. Other Inka artifacts have been brought into the Museum over time.
The Inka Design of tapering walls, doorways, windows, and sills gives the structure a degree of earthquake survivability. This structure survived an earthquake that leveled the city in 1950.
Above Right: The out of adjustment fitting in the stone blocks is the result of the same earthquake that leveled the city in 1950.
Above Right: We have seen the same issues addressed in ancient Greek Architecture, Drainage.
Above: Inca Museum's Courtyard.
At a Park Called Sitio Arqueológico Qorikancha
Above: This is a former Inca site that has mostly been dismantled but it keeps its name, Qorikancha.
Above Left: Cuzco is a very large city with much hillside housing.
Above Right: Only the stone block walls remain from the Inca establishment.
Above Left: Unfortunately, those stone blocks came from former Inca structures.
Above Right: The wall in the bottom right of the photo is an Inca structure remnant.
Museo de Sitio del Qorikancha / Qorikancha Site Museum
(Another Actual Inka Site, Restored, Covered, and Structurally Contained)
Above Left: Archway discovery, an archeological change of plans.
Above Right: If I understand, these archway blocks (formerly a solid wall) were discovered and recovered after the 1950 earthquake. Unfortunately, my photo is from the inside and the explanation picture is viewing from the outside.
Above Left: Recovered interior decorating.
Above Right: Probably a ceremony room.
Cuzco, Continued Walk About
Above Left: Locals in Native Dress, posing for photos for a fee.
Above Right: Jesus overlooks Cuzco from a hill to our east. Tomorrow, we will head to an Inka Site just on the other side of the Jesus Statue.
Today was very exciting; almost everything observed was new us.
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