Sacsayhuamán

Along with meeting Jesusia, we lunched at Los Perros Wine and Couch Bar.  And it was just as advertised, wine and couches were everywhere to be had!

Instead of wine, we opted for pisco sours.  Delicious!  We ordered the curried pumpkin soup, yuca fries, and salad platter.  Everything was super yummy.

I would like to take this opportunity to tell you about traditional Peruvian cuisine and why I didn't eat much of it.  The potato is from Peru.  I had plenty of those.  The tomato is from Peru.  The corn in Peru has humongous kernels.  The avocado is from Peru.  Maca is from Peru (and I consume quite a bit of that at home).  Also from Peru though...

I did not partake in the baked Guinea pig, nor the Alpaca.  I'm sorry if I've disappointed, but baked guinea pig looks and smells just like it sounds.  And I can't make the leap from pet store to plate (also I'm vegetarian, that is the bigger reason).

So where, you ask, does one eat if they too do not like baked guinea pig, yet do not desire to sit on couches while they eat?  Never fear, you can dine at the McDonald's, KFC or Starbucks in the Plaza de Armas.

The far reaching arm of the capitalist, consumerist west is conquering its way south.  I tremble in anticipation for the day we open a Burger King on Easter Island.  The Spanish Imperialists of the 16th century would be proud.

With our bellies full and happy, we made our way uphill(again) to Sacsayhuamán.  (Pronounced sort of like Sexy Woman).   On our way there, we met this woman.  This photo cost me $20 Nuevo Sol.

Sacsayhuamán was a hilltop fortress and may have been the site of a sun temple(Sacsayhuamán means House of the Sun).  It has a large amphitheater type area which was probably used for rituals and ceremonies and is now used for the Inti Raymi or winter solstice celebration.  The structure is an incredible piece of engineering ingenuity.  The stones are massive and perfectly fitted together.   It was built by Inca citizens, all were required to work a certain amount of time in public works.

Perro y Burro a Sacsayhuamán.

Sacsayhuamán was the site of a battle between the Spanish and Manco Inca (I mentioned him previously).  The Inca rebellion managed to stave off the Spanish for a few nights, but were thwarted by a surprise attack in the dark of night.  During the battle some 1500 Inca warriors were killed.  Lore says that many of them chose to jump to their deaths from the high walls rather than succumb to the Spanish.  Francisco Pizzaro's brother was also killed in the fight. (Francisco Pizzaro is the man who conquered Peru for Spain).  This battle at Sacsayhuamán is honored on Cuzco's coat of arms.

http://www.ngw.nl/int/peru/cuzco.htm

Much like all the other cool archeological wonders of the world, this one was harvested for parts.  It essentially became a large quarry.  Rocks for the taking until the early 1900's.

The fortress was built with three zig zag tiers.  Each one represents a sacred animal; the Condor, the Puma and the Snake.  The city of Cuzco itself is said to have been built in the shape of the Puma, with Sacsayhuamán as its head.

Also, it has a great view of the city and its altitude is about 12,000ft.  Yipes!

Also it is for lovers.