January 29 - Not Machu Picchu (maybe better), Part II

Royal Caribbean really tried their best to make up for us missing Machu Picchu, so much so, I have to have a second posting.

Down by the river we had lunch at Hacienda Del Maze. They are a major grower of Large White Corn, referred to as Cuzco corn or Cholo, which can only be grown in the Sacred Valley. Trader Joe's is a consumer of the product. 




            

Inca Kola is a Coca Cola Product. It tastes like cream soda.

After lunch we were provided with an Andalusian Dancing Horse show.


Aww, he won her heart.

After lunch we then went through the town of Lamay, along the Amazon river. It is home of the Guinea Pig on a stick, which are called Quinta cuy or cuyo. It is a delicacy of the Peruvians. And no, we did not have guinea pig for lunch! It was beef, I'm pretty sure or at least I hope it was.

 

This town is as old as the Incas. In fact here are pictures of Inca streets still used today.

We weren't done as we headed to Ollantaytambo. It is one of the most monumental architectural complexes of the ancient Inca Empire, commonly called "Fortress", due to its enormous walls, it was actually a Tambo or city-lodge, strategically located to dominate the Sacred Valley. It is probably second only to Machu Picchu. 

    

            


        

        

        

An excellent water system


A view looking down the valley.
       

A view across the valley

Storage warehouses.

Look-outs quarters

A mountain god, looking down on the inhabitants
        

And the sun god shining down of the fortress

After all this we headed back to the hotel for another hot bath and a gourmet dinner
    



































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