Introduction to today's journey
Today's journey explores the old quarter of Cuzco, where Spanish architecture is built over Incan architecture. We visit several museums, the main square and a market before returning to the hotel in the evening for our briefing of the Inca Trail.
Today's Journey
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Exploring the Plaza de Armas in the middle of Cusco's old quarter. |
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The plaza has some amazing gardens even though the surrounding mountain countryside is arid. |
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Exploring the buildings of the old quarter where the lower parts of the buildings are Incan stone construction and the upper parts are Spanish style construction. |
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View across the plaza from one of the city's museums. |
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The Catedral del Cuzco standing beside the plaza in the late afternoon. The Spanish people brought Catholicism with them transforming the Incan architecture to Western influences. This cathedral was built between 1560 and 1654 at the same time the plaza was built. To the left is the much smaller Iglesia del Triunfo, the first church to be built between 1534 and 1538. |
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The sun sets behind the mountains as the temperature quickly plummets. |
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The sky darkens as the plaza comes to life in the cold evening as it has done over nearly 500 years. |
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Distinctive Spanish architecture of arches of the buildings surrounding the plaza. |
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Heading back through the old quarter illuminated by soft lighting as I follow the narrow cobblestone road. |
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The path steepens into a stairway as I approach the hotel. The cobblestones are a little worn from five centuries of foot traffic but are still in excellent condition. |
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