I’ve noticed a curious thing with high altitudes … I can never sleep more than 5hrs at a time. Today, I considered it a lie-in when I woke up at 6:45am lol PS. This observation is of no relevance to the ensuing post lol
I met some Canadians last night at PachaMama and it turns out they’re staying at Pisko and Soul … two doors down from my hostel. The plan for today is to meet up with them and head to Saqsaywamán Archaeological Park, a walled complex on the northern outskirts of Cuzco.
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| View at the top of the killer steps |
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| Sexy Woman :) |
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| My travel buddies for the day! |
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| Viva El Peru! |
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| Strike a pose ... |
Of course, instead of doing the civilized thing and heading into town to get a bus there, they decide that we should take the steps from the back of the hostel. Over 500 steep dirt-road steps to get to the top of the road that then leads to the park. I had to keep stopping along the way to catch my breath, which provided ample entertainment for the locals we met along the way. Altitude’s a bitch!!! A group of workmen actually stopped work to laugh at me as I was bent over huffing and puffing …but they then let out a big cheer me once I started moving again lol
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| Re-enacting YMCA |
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| Happy to get to the top :) |
Derrick, Chelsea, Najeeb and Gawin (my companions for the day) were much fitter than me, but they were very supportive, bless ‘em. Somehow, one of them always seemed to need a break when I needed one … I think they were babying me along lol My new hiking boots are holding their own, and though my calf muscles are groaning, my feet are blissfully happy.
The view at the top was well worth the pain of getting there. We spent a fun few hours goofing around, taking silly pictures, soaking up the sun-rays, wandering round the park and ruins and generally enjoying the view.
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| Cristo Blanco |
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| The ruins at Saqsaywaman |
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| Fortress wall |
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| Talking to the stones lol! |
We then took a scenic route down to the park gates, past a lovely little waterfall.
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| Gawin and the waterfall |
Then on our way back into town, we go down a beautiful, steep, narrow, cobbled alley street. As we’re ambling along we pass by a studio where a local artist, Luis Miguel, was at work.
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| Luis Miguel |
We interrupted his creative flow, which I was a bit ashamed about, but he was quite accommodating and invited us in to show us some of his work. Turns out he’s also an art teacher … he also showed us the recent projects submitted by some of his students.
Then it was back to the hostel for a hearty lunch and a siesta :)
