The size of the stone blocks is impressive
Peru 2023
Day 27: September 15
Kenko - Sacsayhuamán
Peru 2023
Itinerary
In the morning, we enjoyed the fact that we didn’t have to rush anywhere. We had a calm breakfast.
Today we wanted to visit two monuments from the Inca era. We decided to start with Qenko.
We called a taxi.
The driver dropped us off about 800 meters before the main parking lot, right on the roadside.
Serzhyk had specifically ordered it that way because, oddly enough, the taxi fare differed by almost half because of those 800 meters.
Right where the taxi dropped us off, a narrow but well-trodden path up the hill began.
We took a chance and used it.
Yes, quite by accident, we found the ruins of something left behind by the Incas.
There were no signs, so it was unclear what this place was.
The structure was round.
There was genuine Inca polygonal masonry here!
For some reason, it impressed us more than what we saw at Machu Picchu and Ollantaytambo.
Polygonal “dry” masonry. It’s impossible not to admire the shape of the stones and how precisely they fit together.
Climbed to the top
At the top there were strange little “bathtubs” that were comfortable to sit in
And there was also a little forest of eucalyptus trees here!
It smelled so nice there, like in a sauna, probably of resin.
I had such a strange feeling when I was standing among the trees.
I realized that I hadn’t been in a forest for a month, since we’ve been here in Peru (there are trees here, but only a few scattered ones).
It was so nice to feel like I was in a forest, even if a tiny one.
Eucalyptus Forest
Going further uphill, through the forest, we came out onto the road that led us to Qenqo.
Since the Incas had no writing system, everything we know about them and about the places left behind by them is only the guesses of scholars.
These guesses change from time to time. Scholars come up with something new.
It is believed that Qenqo was a place for rituals.
There is an interesting narrow “tunnel” under the rock here — perhaps a road to the afterlife?…
Kenko
Tunnel to the Otherworld?
Then we headed to Sacsayhuamán.
We walked there in about 15 minutes.
The walk was easy and pleasant, the road went downhill.
Sacsayhuamán even now occupies a huge area.
Unfortunately, very little of it remains.
We read on Wikipedia that the Spaniards first plundered everything that was there (artifacts, weapons), and then dismantled all the structures into stones, which were later used to build “Spanish” Cusco.
It is said that only the blocks that the Spaniards were unable to transport remain.
Remains of the walls in Sacsayhuamán
Top view
Walls close-up. Scientists still cannot exactly figure out how the Incas transported such enormous blocks.
Sacsayhuamán from another angle.
We walked down to the city center along beautiful narrow streets.
On the street, a woman was selling Peruvian boiled corn.
It was white with huge kernels (about 3 times bigger than ours).
It’s interesting that they don’t salt the corn; instead, they serve it with salty cheese like bryndza.
It was so delicious! The kernels were juicy, came off the cob easily, and tasted very much like ours (when it’s young and easy to chew).
By the time we reached the center, low, lead-colored rain clouds had gathered over the city.
We called a taxi and went home.
Descending to the center
Corn!!
Lunch at home on the balcony. We found a delicious authentic baguette at the supermarket. Warm baguette with avocado (a little salt and a drizzle of olive oil) is so tasty!