Cuzco - Better Take Your Diamox
Written: Jan 07 '00
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Inca Ruins, Architecture, Indigenous People, Scenery.
Cons: High Altitude, Possible crime
|
|
|
| TheSmartTraveler's Full Review: Cuzco |
We flew from Lima to Cuzco. Sit on the left side of the plane and if it is a clear day, you will be rewarded with one of the most spectacular sights five minutes prior to landing. The top of mountains jut out through the clouds. When you realize you are thousands of feet up in the plane, you are truly amazed at this wonderful sight. Keep your camera in the ready position.
Upon deplaning at the airport, the crisp fresh air felt exhilarating. Some of the folks who did not believe in Diamox, were running the risk of getting severe headaches and strange sensations until they left Cuzco. We were driven to the Hotel Libertador, our home for the next couple of days. We were greeted by our friendly hosts with a glass of coca tea. The Hotel Libertador, was built by Inca laborers for Francisco Pizarro, conqueror and first Governor of Peru as his own palace. The hotel has 130 rooms in Peruvian colonial style, and offers daily dance and music shows for the guests. This hotel is a first class place to stay!
Some of the wonderful sights we saw around Cuzco, were a quiet Andean village, Colonial Pisac. The high altitude, crystal blue skies and local people in colorful outfits make this picturesque setting a photographers' dream. Pisac's Indian Market, intihuatana (solar clock), ruins and Andenes (pre-Colombian agricultural terrace farming steps on the mountain) are awesome to see. Don't even consider the food in the Pisac market.
Enjoy the Museo Palacio Municipal and the colorful families selling llama sweaters, souvenirs on the outside. Take time for The Cathedral, Church of Santo Domingo, Church and Convent of San Francisco, and other wonders. Just outside the city are Inca ruins. Visit Sacsayhuaman, which is a huge fortress built by stone blocks, some weighing 300 tons, which were pieced together so perfectly that a razor blade cannot be inserted between the pieces. What is so amazing was that no cement or mortar was used in the construction, and the stones were cut at a quarry a mile away and transported to this site. Walk or drive past grazing sheep to the Christ Statue, where you can marvel at a wonderful panoramic view of Cuzco. Check out Tambomachay, which the Incas used as a ritual bath, and worshipped the cold water as one of the elements of life.
Bring plenty of Diamox, Doxycycline, film and comfortable hiking shoes. Go slowly due to the altitude. Be careful not to get drunk in bars late at night and then walk back to your hotel alone. Take your time wondering through atmospheric Cuzco, instead of just using it as a base to get to Machupicchu. It truly is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
TheSmartTraveler
|
 - Top 500 |
|
Member: John Isaacs
Location: Miami, Florida
Reviews written: 493
Trusted by: 178 members
About Me:
I get the shakes if I don't take at least 5 good trips a year.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.