Prologue - Lima and Cusco

We visited Lima and Cusco before the 10 Day Trek.

Lima, located on the Pacific Ocean and with  a population of nearly 10 million, is the capital city of Peru.

We had one full day in Lima and visited the Miraflores District and the Plaza de Armas (Main Square).

Cusco, a world heritage city, was the capital of the Inca Empire, and our home for 3 1/2 days.

Located at an elevation of 11,200', Cusco sits in a bowl surrounded by the Andes Mountains.  Much of the city's buildings have red tile roofs so it reminded me of Santa Barbara.

Cusco is a wonderful walking city. We wandered the streets and neighborhoods for several days, so we got a pretty good feel for the city.

The San Blas Barrio, located above the main square and off the main tourist track, was particularly interesting.  You got heady views of the red-tiled city and surrounding mountains from its heights.

The confluence of Inca and Spanish architecture, the cultural mix, the almost daily celebrations or demonstrations, and the impressive culinary scene made Cusco an exciting city to visit.

A major Inca Ruin, Saksaywaman, sits high above the city with commanding views, a logical place to build a fortress.

Although the Spanish did their best (or worst) to destroy and eliminate much of the Inca heritage and replace it with colonial architecture, enough evidence remains making the city a really unique place in the world.

To view the Lima and Cusco albums, click on "Lima and Cusco" below photo:

From Prologue - Lima and Cusco