Their flight got in around midnight on Wednesday the 24th and after a smooth transition through customs (so I was told) they got to my B&B around 1:30am. I had purchased some food for them which had gone cold by the time they got it, yes, even after I reheated it one time in the toaster…my timing was a little off! The owner/my boss had reserved the ‘nicest’ room in the place for them, room 203. I enjoyed it because it had two beds! One king size and one single (for me). Though I was technically working, I am normally permitted the option of sleeping in the first room in the hotel if available. Though room 203 is the furthest to the back, I simply left a sign at the front desk to knock on the door or shout if anyone needed anything…luckily no one did (or I didn’t hear them). Thursday was a slow day and we started it off with a ‘bag exchange’. When I initially came down to South America I carried my clothes in a good size duffel bag. While this was great for stuffing, it was not so good for traveling, which I found out the hard way on my journey from Buenos Aires to Lima. Anyways, my mom was generous enough to buy me a solid traveler’s backpack which I would/will use both in Machu Picchu and for the remainder of my trip. It is a bit smaller than my duffel bag, so I had to make some sacrifices on clothing: my two biggest dump offs were my $1 sport coat and bright blue DUKE sweat pants; they will both be missed dearly (though I think I wore them a combined two times in 4 months…so not that dearly). After making the transfer, we headed out for a bite to eat. For those unaware, Lima is very well known for their ceviche and my mom and sister were well aware of this. It was a beautiful day so the 30-or-so minute walk from the hotel to Punta Sal, a splendid restaurant overlooking the cliffs and the Pacific Ocean, was wonderful. My sister took plenty of pictures which will be added once she posts them**cough cough**post them please. That night we had another delicious dinner, including another mouth-watering ceviche, and enjoyed a few pisco sours, the official drink of Peru.
With just a brief stay in Lima, I wanted them to see a few of the sights and sounds around, so we made our way to the historical centre city of Lima on Friday afternoon. This was my second trip into the centre, so I was able to be a bit of a tour guide (though not much of one, besides the whole other language thing) and took them to the most interesting landmark of the city, the Church of San Francisco. No, this is not the best part of the city because it has San Francisco in the name, though that would be a GOOD ENOUGH reason! Underneath the Church are catacombs where literally hundreds of thousands of individuals had been buried hundreds of years prior. It is a bit creepy being down there, but also very unique and interesting to be a part of their history. After walking around the centre a bit more, we made our way back to Miraflores and eventually to Kennedy Park where we were catching a bus tour of the city at night. The best part of this tour was our first stop, “El Parque de Agua” or the Water Park. El Parque de Agua is a collection of massive fountains spread throughout a large park, lit by a beautiful array of lights. Included was a very interesting light/water show which was accompanied by Peruvian dance and music. The water park is the largest of its kind in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records!
The following morning we were off to Cusco, a city situated at an altitude of some 11,200 feet, had prepared for this unusual altitude by taking altitude sickness pills prior to and during our arrival (though not sure if they were needed, none of us felt any side effects from the altitude, therefore highly suggested for anyone visiting Machu Picchu!) Due to the altitude, it is requested that groups arrive at least two days prior to any Machu Picchu visits and being overly cautious, we arrived four days prior. Not to worry as there is plenty of activities to do in and around Cusco. ***History note: Cusco was the most highly regarded city during the Incan times. The King resided in Cusco and it was a main trade route throughout all of South America. Due to this, there are literally hundreds of ancient ruins throughout the city and in the neighboring villages.*** The day of our arrival we took it easy and thanks to Slingbox, we were able to watch the Duke vs. Virginia Tech game (of course after they lost and looked awful in the process…maybe not so much thanks). Sunday was our first day of exploration and we decided to do a very short hike to test out our lungs. Cusco is located between the Andes and the town literally rises up along the mountain side. At the top is a beautiful white statue of Jesus that was donated in 1945 by Arabs. It provided an incredible view of the city and a great first day. 
Monday the 28th we got our first taste of Incan ruins outside of Cusco. Through a suggestion of a family friend (thank you Kelly!) the three of us had booked a mountain bike excursion to the quaint town of Maras and the ruins of Moray. To say the day went without hiccup would be a vast exaggeration and, in fact, a lie. All started well with the company picking us up from our hotel a half-hour late. We then hopped in a cab (they paid for it) to meet up with another couple and our guide for the day. To my mama’s delight, we were issued bikes/helmets and immediately rode through the busy city streets of Cusco where we were to catch a bus to our jump off point for the day. So far, so good. It didn’t take long for our first bike issue when Isabel’s, the young lady of the couple, gears refused to change. This would be an ongoing issue for her throughout the day, but far from the most difficult. The first hour of the ride was absolutely gorgeous as we rode through the rolling hills of Ollaytantambo along back roads and dirt paths. To the disappointment of the group, it had rained the night before and the quickest route to Moray was over-flooded and impassable. Not to worry, our guide knew an alternate route! Wrong again. After about 15 minutes of riding along the alternate path, we hit thick mud and were forced to get off and walk. To make matters worse, Richard, the other half of the couple, literally had his chains break. After about 20 minutes, our guide was able to temporarily fix them and traded bikes with Richard. Due to the muddy paths we had to change plans once again and make our first stop at the small town of Maras. The path to this quaint town is where the day went from bad to worse for the three females. It was a steep downhill path with some large rocks and jumps throughout. Needless to say, Richard and I absolutely loved it, but the girls were forced to get off and walk a few times throughout the descent. After reaching the town, we hired a taxi to then take the six of us to Moray. After the day had finished, we were all able to admit that this adventure was absolutely worth the pain and adventure as these ruins were stunning.The multiple levels were each used to farm different strands of potatoes, corn and other farmed goods. The Incans had developed an incredibly unique irrigation system which allowed water flowing from the mountains above to pass through each and every terrace; truly ahead of their time in many aspects of society. Much to the dismay of the women, after making it back to Maras, it was back on the descent for our return to Ollaytantambo. Luckily we had some breath-taking views along the way which lifted their spirits just enough to put a smile on their faces. After a long day, we returned back to Cusco by bus. By now, both my chains and Isabel’s were constantly in and out of working. An issue that didn’t bother me, but only due to the fact that the rest of the trip, once we arrived in Cusco, was all downhill. To put the icing on the cake, our bus ride ended at the top of Cusco, where we then rode thirty minutes, downhill, through city traffic, fading sunlight and uneven streets to our final destination. Needless to say, Richard and I arrived with smiles on our faces after a long, strenuous, and exciting journey. On the other hand, the girls were tired, upset and rather spiteful towards our guide and the tour company. We did the right thing and still tipped the guide, after all, none of the issues we faced were actually his fault, and we headed back to our hotel to relax for the night.
Tuesday came before we knew it and our trek to Machu Picchu would soon be upon us. We spent the day at the local hand-craft market in Cusco buying a few souvenirs and checking out more of the city. That evening we had our pre-departure meeting where we met our lovely group of 11 who we would spend the following 4 days and 3 nights laughing, loving, and struggling through the famous Inca Trail.
No comments:
Post a Comment