Monuments to gods and demi-gods

After having a meeting, running errands, and having lunch with a professor here at UNSAAC, I made my way to Qorikancha, the Incan Temple of the Sun (photo 1). I was supposed to tour it with Ivan, a local who works in a cafe I visited a couple of times. While I was waiting I chatted with a couple of ambulantes, and ended up buying something just out of gratefulness for the conversation. Since I am thinking I may have to learn Quechua, I was speaking to one woman about the language. She told me that it is very easy to speak, but very difficult to write, especially for Spanish-speakers. At least there is a gigantic population with which I could practice!

Ivan arrived shortly thereafter, but we didn't end up going inside since he had to go back to the restaurant for something. Instead we walked down to a large monument to Pachakuteq, an Incan who has apparently been called the "Napoleon of the Andes." He expanded the empire across much of South America, and apparently had Machu Picchu and Qoricancha built during his reign. I'm not certain, but I believe that the mural in the second photo is a reference to him. Ivan tells me that there is a belief that when things are at their worst for Peru, Pachakuteq will return and save the day.

The monument is also a museum, so we entered, looked at the installations as we climbed, and then took in the sunset from the top. The monument (photo 3) offers a pretty nice view of Cusco. Photo 4 is the view to the east, photo 5 to the west towards the Plaza de Armas.

I'll have to actually enter the Temple of the Sun at some point. Maybe tomorrow!