Peru - Cusco

 After Arequipa and Colca, we flew to Cusco in preparation for our Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu.

Cusco itself was once the capital of the Incan Empire. Unfortunately not a lot of the original Incan structures remain, mostly because of the Spanish, who did quite a good job of wiping out anything that wasn't converted to something Christian when they invaded. There are bits and pieces of Incan walls remaining in the city, including the foundations of the big Christian church and monastery that was built there. The iconic 'can't get a knife blade between the stones' Incan construction was only used on buildings of high status. This one I think was a Temple to the Sun, very important in Incan culture.

Happy-Lee at the incan foundations to the church

We had a wander around the city itself and it felt to me much more cozy and nice than Arequipa. More town-like and less city like somehow.

Another church.  There were many.

Huge and detailed mural.

Main square with Xmas Market

Another weird nativity.
Village of the giraffe necked people and demon cows.

Outdoor street market

There was also a massive indoor market with every type of everything for sale in it.

50 types of corn and dried quinoa

Freaky masks for sale.
I tactfully didn't take photos of the ones with penises for noses.
I know! Me? Penises? Tactful?

Obviously, dried llama fetuses.
What else would you offer Pachamama (Earth goddess)

I checked inside - they had not a single willy for sale.

While we were there I also tried out some of the funkier settings on my new camera. You can make it only take photos in one colour. The effects can be quite nice!