Cusco the capital of the Inca empire is a very interesting city. In the 3 countries I have visited the main square is the place to go and has a similar layout, on one side is the cathedral on another is the local and or regional government and in Santiago the national museum is also in the square.
In Cusco however the cathedral takes up one entire side of the square. it is a truly massive complex with many individual chapels to various saints including one saint for women to pray to for help getting a good husband and another for the men to pray to for help avoiding marriage .. Some opportunity for conflict amongst the saints here but I expèct they are very saintly about it .... ;)
The art work and the woodwork is really something else, the amount of gold and silver work is really stunning. It takes about an hour to see the whole cathedral and they have an audio tour in English and several other languages which helps.
To catch the train to Macchu Picchu, you have to go to Poroy station about 30mins out of Cusco. Peru rail is very organised and punctual! they close the access doors to the platform a couple of minutes before departure. Saw 2 girls who were too late with tears streaming down their faces unable to get on to the platform to catch the train which hadn´t yet left.
All the seats are assigned on the way there sat with 3 French girls who were not at all communicative. Train takes 4 hours and arrives in Aguas Calientes (Macchu Picchu town) around 11am some very pretty mountain scenery and then some tropical scenery later as you approach A C.
There isn´t much in Aguas Calientes except multitudes of restaurants next to each other all touting for your business .. saw a potential customer in a duelling restaurants..
Stayed in the Las Bromelias Hostal just off the main square .. wonderful bed and staff were helpful caught the 6:20am bus up to Macchu Picchu .. buses start at 5:30 !
Met the guide and he led us up a path that criss crossed the hill up steps a stiff 10-15mins walk and clearly acclimatisation works as I was able to do the hill climb with out stopping once :)
We arrived at the top of a little hill overlooking Macchu Picchu, and then the clouds went away stunning view simply amazing well worth the trip
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