Puca Pucara

Second ruin along the road, Puca Pucara was used as a hunting lodge, according to our trusty LP. Have I mentioned how phenomenal the weather was that day? It was SO nice to spend the day outside the Diesel Cloud of Death that is Cusco (and even that is much better than the one in Lima).

Here's the ruins from across the road, but mostly the picture was for the beautiful countryside.

The name Puca Pucara means "red fort," and here you can see why. Also, here's a good example of a double-jamb doorway, which signified to the Incas that they were entering an especially sacred or special place.

Oh, we never got tired of doorway pictures. Imagine getting this big lintel up and in place.

View from the top.

After leaving Puca Pucara, we saw this along the side of the road. It's some manner of residential power station, with a power line coming from the main road. It is, in fact, made of mud bricks. Seriously. Half the damn country is also made from mud bricks. No wonder earthquakes are such a big deal here.