Continuing on - a well deserved break!

So we'd had a full day so far. It was 3pm and we'd loved the kids at the school and looked slightly askance at some of the items at Cusco market.

We deserved a break

A well deserved break!

We were wandering around town, admiring the remains of Inca buildings that had been demolished by the Spaniards (the base of the Inca building was used as the foundations for the cathedral, other churches, major buildings). These Inca walls were tremendous, using granite pieces from about 30cm across to ones more than 1 metre across! And they weren't laid in rows, they were fitted together in an intricate jigsaw with multiple interlocking corners. Each stone had to be shaped and the polished by hand, then carefully fitted into place to it interlocked with its neighbours. The work and the precision involved was awe-inspiring.

But we'd had enough of walking. We came across the Hotel Monasterio - a 17th monastery transformed into a 5-star hotel by Orient Express. OMG. It was gorgeous - and even more gorgeous when they let in 6 slightly worse for wear foot-sore travelers come in for afternoon tea. We really didn't fit the decor with our trekking pants & boots, but they were very gracious about it!
...

One of my good friends, on seeing one of these pictures on Facebook, said: "Oh my god, what a coincidence! We stayed there 4 years ago. Are you staying there too?"

I wish! Bastard ... even the thought of it makes me jealous.

I want to go back there again ...