Finally, a horseback ride.

Megan's been promising to take me horseback riding for 2 years, and today we finally went! We were planning to visit an incan ruin near Cusco, called Saqsaywaman, but Marina (our fabulous homestay 'mum') suggested that we take a horseback ride and see a few other ruins as well. She also mentioned that most touristas can´t pronounce the name, calling it 'sexy woman' instead. There were a few hiccups (you can´t actually ride all the way) but it was a fabulous day. Weather was "unsettled" - 5 minutes hail, 5 minutes brilliant sunshine, repeat - but the horses kept us warm, and hail doesn´t really get you that wet...

I neglected to take any web-sized pics until after we dropped the horses off, just before we returned to the main ruin.


Sexy Woman this way!

The other ruins that we saw were all smaller, and Megan and I were actually more impressed by the terraced farms and natural andean gorgeousness than the 'piles of rocks.' Once we got to Saqsaywaman, we were a bit more impressed. Most of the stones used here are over 10 feet high!


Megan and some big rocks

Records of the construction are a bit hazy, as the site was trashed during a war in the 17th century, with the general consensus being that it was designed as a temple of the sun.
All the work done way back then has left an amazing legacy, tho: thousands of offwidth boulder problems!


Dave about to get noticed by security


We walked back down to Cusco, and stopped for some mate de coca and yummy chocolate cake. Peruano food is incredible!

The sun was out by the time we were back in town, so we hid all our valuables away and headed home, via the Place des Armes. Surrounded by beautiful old churches, this is the tourist spot in Cusco. I´m pretty sure that 20 soles vanished from my pocket while we chilled out here yesterday. Cheap lesson in keeping an eye out...


Place des Armes


Old Church. TBD: find the name...