Seems I’ve been remiss….

Hmmm, we’ve been on lengthy vacations to both France and Peru  since I deserted my post here.  After receiving inquiries ranging from “who tied my fingers in knots so I couldn’t type”, to” how severe is my writer’s block”, I’m back pounding away at the computer.

As one of the most unique and beautiful experiences of our collection of travels, Peru seems the natural place to resume our adventures.  After working for a couple of months with a friend’s nephew who is a travel agent in Lima, our travel plans were confirmed.  We set out with backpacks and Nook/Ipad’s in hand early morning mid-May from the San Miguel bus station en route to Mexico City where we would catch a flight to Lima, Peru .  The Mexico City airport is either a 20 minute taxi ride from the bus station or a 60 minute ride depending on the time of day.  Having been in taxis in many countries, I always thought taxis in Shanghai were the worst…….until Mexico City!  Careening down a 4 lane one way street at breakneck speed, suddenly our driver wanted to turn left from the right hand lane which caused tiny black spots before our eyes as we found ourselves hyperventilating!  Of course, the driver couldn’t see the other lanes as he had hung a towel from his window to keep the sun out of his eyes.  No problem really, as all the other taxi drivers merely leaned on their horns, safely guiding him to where he wanted to go.

Lima is a subtropical city which  sits atop 1500 ft cliffs at the edge of a desert, and is sheltered from the trade winds being in the middle of the Humboldt Current.  Hundreds of meters of mosaic walls created by local artists, meander along the cliff edge above the ocean.  Dinner at Nautica Rosa on the pier.

The old town center with their wooden balconies.  Watching the changing of the guards at the Presidential Palace across the square.

As we wanted to acclimate to the 13,500 altitude of Cusco, the Sacred Valley at 9,000 was our next destination. Taking an airplane over the Andes is amazing!  Of course, having posted this picture I took from the airplane window on Facebook, I got messages back from family about “airplane lost over the Andes….mmmm….barbeque!”  I asked my brother if he would head up a search party but my email came back “person unknown”.

We got a taste of climbing steep ruins at high altitudes at Ollantaytamba, watched the local women weaving their beautiful textiles:  rugs, shawls, blankets, etc.  Of course, there were plenty of girls in full local dress with lambs to take pictures of for about 3 cents.

Wanting to be up the mountain and see the sunrise above Machu Picchu the morning after the full moon meant getting up at 4:30.  It was worth every second! The mountain shrouded in swirling fog began to lighten gradually as the sun made it’s way out from the highest peak which was 12,500 feet.  Within minutes, a baby llama was born; within an hour it took it’s first wobbly steps. 

We hoped all these school kids slept in……we didn’t see the little yappers again until almost noon the next day, having the ancient mountain to ourselves.

From the Sun Gate high above Machu Picchu….another hour and a half climb above the ancient city.

Cusco at 13,500, a city we could have spent another 3 days in.  We explored many ruins above the city, including Saqxyhuaman, pronounced Sexy Woman.The gates of Saqxyhuaman.

Next stop was Uros Islands, the floating islands made from reeds.  Each little island has anywhere from 1 to 5 families, each with their own hut.  If they don’t get along with one another, they simply cut the island in half and hook it to one of their little boats and drag it across the bay to another location.

Amantani Island in the middle of Lake Titicaca, halfway to Bolivia on the east, Peru on the West.  We stayed with a local family on the island.  The granddaughter’s pet chicken kept her entertained while she entertained us.  Climbing almost another 1000 feet to the top of the mountain, we had a fabulous view of Bolivia’s glaciers from one side of the island, and a beautiful sunset on the other.

Beautiful country, beautiful people.