Cusco is old and has a long history. It was the capital of the Incan empire from the 13th to the 16th century when the Spanish came. The Spanish destroyed and pillaged a lot of it and built a new city on top of the Incan foundations. Throughout the city, beautiful remnants of the Incan architecture can be seen, heard and felt. It can be heard in that many people here still speak Quechua, the old Incan language which is very distinct from Spanish. It can be felt in that when you see the airtight, yet seemingly random construction of Incan stonework there’s a sense of mystery that comes over you. You’re drawn to touch the stones and marvel at the precision of its seams, wondering, as those who study such things do, how did they do it.

The Spanish architecture is beautiful as well, but even they admitted at the time, not as well made. There are many layers to this culture and the people here, including the modern-day one of tourism and technology. But what you don’t see Peruvians with are cell phones and coffee cups.

The city is alive with locals and people from all over the world, day and night, with music and parades and celebration, deep history and modern commerce, poverty and excess, layers of Gods and mystery. Worlds upon worlds.