The 12 sided Stone and San Blas

This stone is famous because it has 12 sides. It is in a wall in the city of Cusco on the way to the San Blas area...or for us, on the way to the pizza place. There were many people taking pictures near the area and locals trying to sell photos or other goods as well. A small vehicle MAY have been able to fit in the corridor between the old Inca wall and the current shops. We passed the stone many times during our time at Cusco, and each time there was someone there to warn people not to touch the 12 sided stone...which, of course, I understand....but I did wonder if the giant stone managed to survive the Spanish conquest and a ton of other history, how bad could touching it now be? Anyhow, the stone is famous becasue the 12 sides fit exactly well to the twelve other stones and so it is an extraordinary example of Inca masonry skills. Our guide at another ruin told us that the Inca made moulds of the stones they would require, then mined and shaped the stones and then brought them to the construction site and fitted them into place. Pretty impressive.    

San Blas is artist district that the tour book described as 'bohemian." It seemed exactly the same as other Inca areas in Cusco, so maybe I missed something. We did have Pizza in the San Blas area. It was oven fired adn very tasty. The wall of the restaurant was original Inca wall...pretty cool.  

Final note: the roads in San Blas are VERY narrow and VERY hilly. More of that walking uphill. Anyhow when one is walking (up) the street and a car is coming down at the same time, it actually seems like the mirrors on the car might hit you, that is how narrow the road way is. It was terrifying to walk up that sidewalk with Diego...to those of you who know Diego's spatial abilities...enough said. :)