Day 5: High on life at 12,000 feet in Cusco

This was a travel day, we left Lima and flew to Cusco around midday. We relaxed and strolled through the city until 2:00 pm.

A visit was arranged by the tour company which utilized both the bus and on foot.
The group visited a 1600´s Spanish Cathedral that was built on top of the old Incan temples. Inside the cathedral the altars and motifs were adorned in gold and silver.
One of the altars was made of approximately 6000 pounds of silver. The guide mentioned that the faith of the time allowed the ruling class to buy thier way into heaven simply by donating to the church. Many of the decorations are a combination of Catholic and Inca beliefs.

We also toured remnants of the Incan Temple of the Sun. We observed the construction practices of the Inca and their technologies. The key observation was that these construction techniques were able to survive at least 3 major earthquakes. Most of the Spanish construction which replaced the Inca buildings have already had to be rebuilt.

A dinner seminar was presented by an Inca woman who spoke and taught the native Andean languages which are now being preserved. She explained the blending of the cultures and the Incan religous beliefs. We came away with an understanding of current tribal belief and how the religions were blended through the ages. The dinner event was held at a typical Peruvian restaraunt. All of the food has been excellent.

We learned first-hand about altitude sickness. Several class members felt shortness of breath and headache symptoms immediately. Luckily the hotel served oxygen to those who needed it. The hotel also served the Incan remedy for altitude sickness which is mata de coca tea.

Cara, Bryan, Jose