Our First Two Days in Cuzco

     Yesterday and today, we had our first few days in Cuzco. Our stay began on Monday; we departed early in the morning to avoid traffic, and arrived in Cuzco at 3pm Local time. Our first day was important for acclimatizing to the higher elevation of the city and its thinner atmosphere. We had to relax and eat little, lest we overstrain our body; we used the time to contact home, and finish up our homework. The local Coca tea is delicious, and was important to keeping up our energy.
     Today, we began our tour of Cuzco and its landmarks. We started at the the San Ignacio Cathedral. Built on top of Cuzco's main Incan temple, it was one of the main centers for converting Incans to Catholicism during the colonial era. Although the church was heavily influenced by Spanish styles, it still had some Incan buildings left, which withstood earthquakes better than the (comparatively) younger colonial buildings. Next, we went to the remains of an old Incan temple. It was used as a ceremonial space for the city's religious festivals, and continues to be used to celebrate important holidays even today. It also has a commanding view of the city, making it an ideal place for its defense.
     Next, we visited an ancient aquifer built by the Incas for both infrastructure and religious reasons. The spring supplied the city with drinking water, allowing it to be more secure. At the same time, it was believed that the water from it flowed directly from their Earth goddess, making it a sacred place that could only be visited by religious and political elites. Finally, we toured the Cathedral of Cuzco; like San Ignacio, it was built on top of a premier Incan temple in order to attract more local worship. In addition, many symbols of the old Incan religion such as colors, shrines, and emphasis of natural elements, are incorporated into its designs.
     After our tour, we parted ways and had lunch. I went to a small restaurant with a focus on Andean cuisine, and had my first Alpaca steak; it was rich, tender, and delicious. Tonight, we will be concluding the day with our final presentations on our textbook in the hotel lobby. I imagine that they will be among the best yet given the time we all had to prepare.