The most acute readers will undoubtedly notice the subtle double pun about a famous drink made with pisco, and Cusco’s troublesome times on the other hand. Don’t thank me, the pleasure is all mine.

At first we were in Cusco for a couple of days to get acclimated to the height before the Inca trail. Then we wanted to stay a few days more to explore more sites around the city – which we never did! Finally we were in Cusco because the strikes had started strong again and we couldn’t leave anymore! (See next post about escaping Peru!)

Cusco is a fabulous blend of Inca and post colonial architecture. To start with, the plan of the original Inca city has the shape of a puma! Walking in the historical center, you can admire the fascinating Inca architecture, like a puzzle of giant stone blocks perfectly adjusted (such as the famous twelve corners stone).

We visited the Qoricancha, or temple of the sun, which has been converted into the Santo Domingo church by the spaniards, but still retains its original Inca structure. The Coricancha is the epicentre of the ceques system; a giant network of Inca cities and temples, all aligned and radiating from Qoricancha, and all communicating with each other (one visible from the next so they could communicate with light signals)