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South America: Main account, part 5: In and Around Cusco, Peru


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The Incas had their main temple complex on a knoll in Cusco. The Spanish demolished most of it, and hid a number of buildings under stucco. (They were only re-discovered in the 1950s after an earthquake.)

Above we can see the Inca foundation topped by the Spanish cathedral. The conquistadors may not have been civilized, but they knew a thing or two about establishing who was boss. I should add that the Incas before them also had some creative and effective ideas for maintaining supremacy, which our excellent local guide Ivonne related to us, but which are too involved to relate here.

(The photo was stitched together from three photos.)



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These ladies live in modern day Ollantaytambo. (Try saying that after a Pisco Sour). It has been inhabited continually since before the days of the Incas... longer than any other town in the Western hemisphere. The Inca infrastructure (c.1500) is still intact.. the only significant town to survive thus. (Macchu Picchu wasn't sacked... bit nor was it finished or kept alive.)

A visit to Ollantaytambo is like going to a Pompeii which had not been wiped out by its volcano. Note the spinning being done by the lady on the right.







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(Same site. Each terrace about 10' high.)









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