The view from the Church overlooking the area where part of the Koricancha once stood

The amazing curved architecture

Cathedral on The Plaza de Armas

The fountain in the middle of The Plaza

Other sections of The Plaza, now seen at night

Great opportunity to shop and people watch

Our Dining Room is the former dining room of The Monastery

And DINE, we did!

The Church that has also been preserved...

...within the Monastery, which is now this 5 Star Belmond Hotel

The Staff was golden, too.

Our travels continue on the Belmond Andean Explorer...

...where we will traverse the highest plains of the Andes to Puno, then Arequipa

But first a native send off

Naturally loved their hats

(Always) time for a toast

And time to enjoy the open air car and see where we've been...

Silhouette of Jeff and Joan as our train climbs higher; oxygen is on board along with a nurse

It pauses long enough for us to explore the Inca site at Raqchi, which was a primary control point on a road system that originated in Cusco and expanded as the Inca Empire grew

The columns of the Temple of Wiracocha are reminiscent of the Karnack Temple in Egypt

These structures were used for storage, not as homes in which to live

Always a soccer game going on somewhere ...much to John's delight. Little wonder the South American countries are so passionate about the sport

A quick train stop at La Raya, which marks the border between the regions of Cusco and Puno; it is a typical natural area of the zone known as "puna," whose surrounding flora is mainly formed by "ichu" and its fauna by alpacas, llamas, and vicunas