Cuzco & Old Ruins above Cuzco
In
Cuzco, heart of the Inca Empire, we explore narrow lovely cobblestone streets,
the impressive Sacsayhuaman fortress, and various churches dating back to the
16xx's.
Below, a view from above Cuzco of the center of Cuzco and the main square. Our hotel was just off the main square. Double click the picture to see a larger view.
Through Cuzco and other towns, they had very ornate wood shutters over some windows. These were on a very old church. Double click to see a larger view.
Below, we were in Cuzco for some major religious event. In the main square was a big parade, with each local village bringing a large statue from their church to the parade. If you double click and look at a larger view, you can see how heavy the statue is by the grimace on the kids faces.
Below, the ancient city of Cusco, Peru, was laid out in the shape of a stylized puma, and Sacsayhuaman is at its head. As a matter of fact, another name for Sacsayhuaman is Saca Huma, which means the head of a puma. Although it sounds like "sexy woman", Sacsayhuaman is Quechua for "satisfied falcon," a name that refers to the carrion-eating birds that feasted on the dead after a hideous battle was fought here in 1536, when Spanish invaders annihilated the defending Inca forces. Now, Sacsayhuaman is the site of Cusco's largest annual festival, Inti Raymi, (seen in photo at the left) held during the June 21st winter solstice. Three parallel walls, built in a zig-zag pattern, were part of the defensive fortress, and correspond to the teeth of the puma.
Sacsayhuaman is noted for its irregularly-shaped, gargantuan stone blocks, one of which weighs more than 300 tons. They are fitted together without mortar, and the ones now remaining have withstood not only attempts by the Spanish to knock them down, but also more than half a millennium of earthquakes and other natural forces. Pictured at the right is an entrance near which a serpent pattern is carved into the rock. Almost exactly the same size as the human brain and spinal column, this carving is believed to represent the seven chakras, and it is said that the seven gouged-out areas were once filled with gold, crystals and gemstones. Mark Amaru Pinkham, author of the book The Return of the Serpents of Wisdom, regularly leads groups to sacred sites in Peru, through Soluna Tours. Mark says that another name for Sacsayhuaman is the Serpent-Lightning Temple, because it is believed that in ancient times the Incas performed rituals here to awaken the inner serpent, or kundalini energy, located at the base of the human spine. Double click the picture for a larger view.
Below, Sheila next to the 3oo ton stone. You can see the places at the bottom of the stone that were used to lever the stone in place. Double click for a larger view.
