Saturday, 13 September 2014
The third place we went to was Saqsaywaman, an Inca ruin. This is a walled complex on the northern outskirts of Cusco. The complex is made of large polished dry stone walls, with boulders carefully cut to fit together tightly without mortar. The stones used in the construction of these terraces are among the largest used in any building at that time, and the stones are so closely spaced that a single piece of paper will not fit between many of the stones. This precision, combined with the rounded corners of the blocks, the variety of their interlocking shapes, and the way the walls lean inward, is thought to have helped the ruins survive devastating earthquakes in Cuzco. The longest of the walls is about 400 meters. They are about 6 meters tall. The popular theory is that this used to be an Inca fortress as it is situated on a steep hill that overlooks the city.
The fourth place we visited was Qenko, which was a holy site for the Incas based on naturally occurring rock formations. It looks a bit like a cave, and it is believed that the site was used for sacrifices and mummification.
The fifth place we went to was Tambomachay. In Quechua, "tampu" means inn or guest house, and "mach'ay" means cave, so Tambomachay literally means "guest house cave". It consists of a series of aqueducts, canals and waterfalls that run through the terraced rocks. Apparently the water, which are from the mountains, have never stopped running since ancient times. The function of the site is uncertain: it may have been a military outpost, or a spa resort for the Incan political elite, or both.
The sixth and last place we visited was Puca Pucara. In Quechua, "puka" means red, and "pukara" means fortress, so "red fortress". It is thought to be the site of military ruins that may have also functioned as an administrative centre. It is made of large walls, terraces, and staircases. The name probably comes from the red colour of the rocks at dusk.
Before returning to Cusco, we stopped at a wool making factory where we were given a short briefing about the different types of wool from the 4 camelids, the best quality being vicuñas, then guanacos, then alpacas and lastly llamas. There are 65 different shades of colour that occurs naturally from their fur or wool. To this, they also have 65 colours from other natural elements, such as the munya plant for green, and mixed with sulphur or salt you get different colours, all natural.
After this we went back to cold Cusco and I got to see a nice view of Cusco by night. I don't know why, I was feeling a bit sick, headache and slight nausea and I wondered whether it was altitude sickness, but then I was already in Cusco twice and also in Puno and Lake Titicaca where the altitude is even higher. Maybe it was the beers from last night. Whatever it was, I went to bed early, hopefully I will feel better tomorrow.
The third place we went to was Saqsaywaman, an Inca ruin. This is a walled complex on the northern outskirts of Cusco. The complex is made of large polished dry stone walls, with boulders carefully cut to fit together tightly without mortar. The stones used in the construction of these terraces are among the largest used in any building at that time, and the stones are so closely spaced that a single piece of paper will not fit between many of the stones. This precision, combined with the rounded corners of the blocks, the variety of their interlocking shapes, and the way the walls lean inward, is thought to have helped the ruins survive devastating earthquakes in Cuzco. The longest of the walls is about 400 meters. They are about 6 meters tall. The popular theory is that this used to be an Inca fortress as it is situated on a steep hill that overlooks the city.
The fourth place we visited was Qenko, which was a holy site for the Incas based on naturally occurring rock formations. It looks a bit like a cave, and it is believed that the site was used for sacrifices and mummification.
The fifth place we went to was Tambomachay. In Quechua, "tampu" means inn or guest house, and "mach'ay" means cave, so Tambomachay literally means "guest house cave". It consists of a series of aqueducts, canals and waterfalls that run through the terraced rocks. Apparently the water, which are from the mountains, have never stopped running since ancient times. The function of the site is uncertain: it may have been a military outpost, or a spa resort for the Incan political elite, or both.
The sixth and last place we visited was Puca Pucara. In Quechua, "puka" means red, and "pukara" means fortress, so "red fortress". It is thought to be the site of military ruins that may have also functioned as an administrative centre. It is made of large walls, terraces, and staircases. The name probably comes from the red colour of the rocks at dusk.
Before returning to Cusco, we stopped at a wool making factory where we were given a short briefing about the different types of wool from the 4 camelids, the best quality being vicuñas, then guanacos, then alpacas and lastly llamas. There are 65 different shades of colour that occurs naturally from their fur or wool. To this, they also have 65 colours from other natural elements, such as the munya plant for green, and mixed with sulphur or salt you get different colours, all natural.
After this we went back to cold Cusco and I got to see a nice view of Cusco by night. I don't know why, I was feeling a bit sick, headache and slight nausea and I wondered whether it was altitude sickness, but then I was already in Cusco twice and also in Puno and Lake Titicaca where the altitude is even higher. Maybe it was the beers from last night. Whatever it was, I went to bed early, hopefully I will feel better tomorrow.
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