September 14, Saturday Transfer to Cuzco • Ollantaytambo  

Accommodations: JOSE ANTONIO CUSCO HOTEL 

Activity Note: We will spend the day at elevations above 11,000 feet. 

We recommend staying hydrated while at high altitude. 

This morning after breakfast, we drove through the Urubamba gorge once again and arrived at the Ollantaytambo station. We went to the Inca fortress Ollantaytambo where some of our group opted to climb up the huge terraces guarding the ancient hilltop temple area. Allan and I and five others opted out. There was no way I would be able to climb up those steps to the top with the height. I did Machu Picchu and that was enough excitement for the year.

Sharon, Dick, Allan, and I stopped into a coffee shop and I enjoyed a coca tea and Allan had a nice strong Americana coffee.

After about an hour, the group returned from their climb and we went for lunch at a beautiful restaurant that featured a huge buffet.

We then boarded the bus and drove to Cusco and checked into our hotel. We are at an elevation once again of over 11,000 feet, but we have not had any problems with difficulty breathing.

At 6 we met Patty and took taxi cabs to the Plaza de Armas. It was all lit up and we could see the twinkling lights of the homes in the mountains. Afterwards, most of the group stayed to have empanadas, but Allan and I took takeout empanadas, and brisk walked back to the hotel to enjoy them there with a glass of wine.

The terraces. People climb up to the top in the stairs to the left.

Many of the remaining ruins had notches in them. Apparently they were fashioned that way so they could be put together like Lego blocks.

My coca tea

The restaurant

The plaza with the homes in the mountaintops. Tomorrow we will visit again in the daylight.