What better way to ring in the new year than with some llama and alpaca friends?

The two to the left are dreaded alpacas, the next two normal alpacas, and the last, though the tallest, the baby of the group, a one-year old llama.

Perched 2km above Cusco, Sacsaywamán is protected by steep cliff-sides, and only needed protective walls on one side. This zig-zap wall is one of three, described as being in the shape of a lightning bolt. Sacsaywamán is a name well-loved by Anglophone tourists, as when you pronounce it out loud, it sounds much like the blog title.

Ruins and Cusco

Perfectly fitted corner

We will get to the bottom of the mystery of these humongous and tall, mortar-less walls.

These ramparts stand over 65 feet high and have stood the test of time, earthquakes, and Spanish invasion. The strength of the mortar-less stonework is matched only by the mystery of how it was built in the first place, one block weighing in at over 300 tons.

I think this alpaca’s name was Estrellita del Cielo, Little Star of the Sky

Looking back at the three-tiered wall

Volcanic rock slides; spot the gringo

One of our most delicious meals; I have an entire 280g llama steak before me.

Cusco center; this rock always has a long line of visitors, eager to get a photo with the 12-cornered stone.

Pisco Museum

We each did a tester flight; drunk on anticipation.

Getting Erin ready for her long trip home just hours later and thoroughly enjoying our Pisco experience.