Off the Sidewalk

Just a couple miles outside Cusco is an Incan masterpiece called Saqsaywaman, pronounced “sexy woman”. If you take pictures without people in them to indicate scale, you have no idea how huge these magnificent stones are. The way the Incas fit them together is so precise, with no mortar or mud. They are absolutely amazing to see up close.

…and here are some of my paintings.” Strolling the Plaza de Armas in Cusco is like running a obstacle course. Every few feet we are approached by one or more people trying to sell us something. Saying “no, gracias” becomes as natural as saying “buenas dias”. Some of the kids have a unique approach, like the boy claiming to be Picasso, offering us some “original” paintings from the stack he produced from under his jacket. Then there was Milton, a boy selling postcards who asked where we were from. When he heard California, he listed the facts he knew of our state: capitol is Sacramento; governor is Arnold Schwarzenegger. Next time we´re asked I´m going to say we´re from North Dakota and see what happens. Other sellers are pushing finger puppets, handmade dolls, carvings, anything and everything a tourist might want, but not need.

Today we toured the hilly area northeast of Cusco. Saqsaywaman (pronounced “sexy woman”) is an incredible Incan stone fortress covering many acres. The gigantic stones assembled there by Incan craftsmen fit together perfectly without mortar. An overwhelming accomplishment, standing in the presence of the magnificent stones is a moving experience. Similar to the giants on Easter Island or the pyramids in Egypt, it´s impossible to comprehend how something so huge could be formed and transported to the site.

Here we are. We had a delayed takeoff from the US but an uneventful flight to Lima. After filling out our Andean Immigration Card and indicating our "main porpouse of travel" we arrived Lima after midnight. The taxi ride to our hotel was mildly terrifying. My first impression of Lima ... [Continue reading this entry]