Cusco

The Plaza in Cusco. 

Locals. 

Stone tunnel where the Inca mummified their kings.

Plaza in Cusco.

Christo Blanco - White Christ in the park overlooking Cuzco - modeled after Christ the Redeemer in Rio.

Saqsaywaman, pronounced by Americans as “sexy woman” is a huge Inca temple overlooking Cuzco. “Saqsay” means spotted and “waman” means falcon.

The Peruvians called this area "Qosqo," pronounced Costco by the locals. The Spanish could not fit it within their language, and changed it to "Cuzco." The central image in this monument means a lot to the Inca, but frankly, it was only a few hours ago and I've forgotton already. The center three lines represent the three parts of the Inca culture religion: Condor, Snake and Puma.

These huge stones were quarred, cut, set on a foundation and fit up by the Inca. Note the fine masonry work. The structures were much higher. But until 1950, there was no protection for these monuments, and the locals used this as a quarry and took the stones as needed. The aerial view is wild, as it is very long in an irregular configuration to look like a snake.

Local tree.

Modern Inca.