Five Feet, Nine Inches Above Ground

Wednesday October 29, 2025

The town of Pisac was our destination. Located on the banks of the Urubamba River south of Cusco, it attracts many people from the surrounding area with its large market and Inca ruins. The market is known for textiles, jewelry and souvenirs. On weekends, the vendors spill out of the market onto the main square.

The Inca development happened in the 1440’s and stretches about a kilometre at altitudes ranging from 3400 metres to more than 3500 metres. We took the bus most of the way up and then went on foot the rest of the way.

The cliffside Inca graveyard has been raided by many in search of gold and silver. Locals continue to scavenge fabric to make small dolls to sell in the market to tourists. Sacrilege! Please don’t purchase. The complex was built as a retreat for an Incan Emperor, his family and entourage. It was destroyed by the Spanish. Climbing up and down was a test of my courage and I did it. At the top, we were treated to a short concert by David Jensen, guitarist, who hails from the United States

Luckily, my time visiting the ruins reduced the amount of time I could spend in the market! That really helped with the budget.

The day ended with dinner in a Urubamba restaurant. After all that exercise, it was definitely welcome! A vegetarian lasagne to sate the appetite!