Pisaq

Pisaq is an Inca citadel high above the Sacred Valley. Bigger and more intact than Macchu Picchu, it only lacks the mystique of being a 'lost city'. Walking around it, it's streets, steps and buildings, we could really see and feel how the Inca's lived. There were houses, terraces for agriculture, look-out towers, a hospital, a cliff-face cemetary (where bodies were placed into holes in the rock), and ultimately their grand astrological site and temples to the sun and moon. 
As the afternoon clouds descended around us, bringing a mist of grey rain, it created a uniquely ethereal (though slightly damp) atmosphere.

Unfortunately, what felt like a mildy annoying shower to us at the top of the mountain, had gathered momentum and turned to a torrent by the time it had reached the town below. The river had burst it's banks and flooded the main street and the footpath down had been washed away in sections. In short, we were stuck.
Luckily for us, a group of local guides on their way home soon joined us, and together we all made our way slowly down the only route available - scrambling over rocks and bushes down the near sheer mountainside. As we came lower we could see the men of the town all fighting the raging river with sticks, moving rocks and trying to prevent the river silting up and flooding over into the town. They directed us across the face of the mountain, away from areas prone to landslides, and eventually we made it down to the only safe river crossing - a narrow concrete drain into town, where a Peruvian TV crew stood, filming our 'rescue', just for good measure. 

As if that wasn't enough adventure for one day, our bus back to Cusco got stuck behind a huge landslide, and we had to wait for a bulldozer to come and clear a path through.
Eventually we made it back, muddy and chilly, but safe and all a bit excited by the adventures. 
My Mum had signed off her last email (with reference to the recent earthquake and tsunami) "Take care of everyone, and stay away from danger!"
I didn´t do it on purpose Mum, honest!