May 6th we flew from Dallas on the evening plane to Lima, arriving at midnight. We joined Gerry and Irv for a mad cab ride to our hotel in Mira Flores. Next day we toured the city with cousin Tuki, then flew on to Cuzco at 12,000 altitude, the ancient capital of the Inca. After three days around Cuzco and the Sacred Valley we took a train to Machu Picchu, staying at the Sanctuary Lodge there.
Our last night in Peru with Gerry and Irv before boarding our 1 AM flight to Dallas. We all had Pisco sours and a delicious meal, and then we walked the streets of Lima until time to leave.
This is the national drink of Peru made from local Pisco liqueur, lime juice and beaten egg white. It is served ice cold in a small tumbler and packs a wallop. Alaire had one before dinner our last night in Peru and was too mellow to finish her meal. Brave Tom finished her drink after his flounder, and then we walked (staggered) around downtown Lima until time for our midnight departure for the US.
Flying from Cusco to Lima we skirted the western side of the Andes, with the Amazon rainforest just beyond under the clouds.
The guard house overlooks the entrance from the Inca Trail into Machu Picchu. The walls are ancient and the thatched roof is new.
These open air stalls filled with rugs, woven goods and native crafts line the train station platform. I bought a beautiful wind chime made of a carved brass bell, semiprecious stones and old coins for $6.
On the trip back from M.P. we passed Salcantay, over 15,000 feet high in the Andes
After an early evening walking in near silence we stopped by the sentry house where the Inca Trail enters the citadel. A lone passerby took our picture and vice versa.
The Inca (King) and his family and assistants and servants retreated from the royal city of Cuzco to Machu Picchu for relaxation and spiritual inspiration. The Spanish never found this citadel, a 5 day hike from Cuzco, so it remained intact and 'lost' for 500 years.
The expanse of grass divides the residential sector from the industrial area. This is where they had festivals and ceremonies, and where the sole piece of ancient jewely was unearthed (a silver and gold bracelet).
The entry gate through which the Inca and royal family entered. Wyna Picchu rises in the background where a number of small temples were built.
Once the train pulls out the buses muscle in to pick up tourists for the hairpin road to Machu Picchu, 1000 feet above. The vendors rush onto the tracks to set up prime locations on the tourista path. Alaire likes her new straw Inca hat.
We took the Orient Express / Peru Rail train through lush steep canyons carved by the Urubamba River.
The entrance to a collection of private homes on a side street in Cuzco. The style is colonial Spanish, the fabrication crude and the exposed wiring (running through the upper left of arch) is clearly home made.
Not to be outdone by the builders of the cathedral to the left of this picture, the Jesuits erected this beautiful Baroque church on top of the foundations of the Inca royal palace.
The stones in this wall were carved to fit perfectly and were constructed without mortar. The random stone style was for commoners.
On a hill outside of Cuzco are the foundations for the Inca fortress. It was overrun by the Spanish and the smaller upper stones used as building material for construction of Catholic churches in town. One can see the scale of this construction from the woman in the lower center. Each stone was carved to perfectly fit the one below so no mortar was needed.
Off the cathedral square the remains of the Inca palace can be seen under the Spanish buildings. The horizontal stone style was reserved for royalty. With each earthquake at 300 year intervals the Spanish structures crack and fall while the Inca stones remain solid.
As we left our tour bus these mothers showed off their babies, asking one Sol (26 cents) for a picture.
Each Sunday people come on foot from miles around to the open air market. The one big tree in the center is the meeting place for lost souls.
Every Sunday artisans and tourists meet in Pisac, 40 km from Cuzco, for market day. The market covers approximately 16 city blocks, with one public restroom in a central restaurant.
We walked and climbed steps at Ollantaytambo ruins., including these built into the wall.
From 32,000 feet the colors in the exposed rock were impressive.
T's cousin Tuki and her friendly Argentian boyfriend took us to this delightful restaurant on the Pacific shore. Then we spent several hours at the Indian Market full of alpaca, llama and vicuna sweaters, shawls and ponchos, and straw hats and bags and wood carvings.
Outside the Royal Palace in Lima we watched the changing of the guard, complete with an awful brass band and high stepping brightly uniformed guards. This woman is dressed in typical Peruvian attire and has the typical Quechua profile.
