cusco: in pictures

On our VERY early flight out of Calgary.  Yes folks, it is our first trip sans kids!!!!  At this point it is a good thing that I was medicated because I had already cried lots and we hadn't even been gone very long yet.

Following a wonderful nights sleep in Lima we are ready to board another flight into Cusco

 This is the main square in Cusco.  From this main square you can see 16 Cathedrals, all built by the Spanish who came to convert the Inca nation.  The rainbow flag is the flag of Cusco.

 One of the great Incan leaders.  I used to know his name, and could probably look it up, but I don't feel like it right now.  He is the king who succeeded in the expansion of the Incan empire.

 Many of the buildings in Cusco are built on partial Incan walls like this one.  Some of the building were very distinct European style (the spanish) built on top of an Incan wall. 

 Me and My lover!

 This is a fountain built in honor of the Incan God, water.

 yeah, we didn't look like tourists or anything did we?

 I love the idea of Pacha Mama.  The Incans had several Gods that they worshipped, but one of the most important Gods was Pacha Mama (Mother Earth).

 My man has an iron clad stomach!!!!  He was trying everything left and right.  We aren't really sure what this is, but he bought it from a girl on the street.  I do have to admit that it was good, even if it was unidentifiable to us north americans.

 The corn in Peru ROCKS!!!  This picture does not do it justice at all!  The kernels are easily the size of the top portion of my thumb.  Every meal I had in Peru had corn and potatoes ... everyone.  Seriously I loved this corn!

 Peru grows over 3,000 kinds of potatoes.  I love that these ones look like carrots.

 The middle bad is another kind of corn.  Peruvians make this corn into everything.  While in Peru I had this corn in pudding form, juice form, syrup form, and they even make it into beer (which I did not have). I do think it is odd that not once did I hear of anyone eating it straight off the cob.  I wonder why?  Eric do you know??

 From Cusco we took a bus into the sacred valley to work.  

This place is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!