Machu Picchu Day 4

Yes, I have been wearing the same clothes for three days. I promise I am showering.

OK, so Machu Picchu is insane. There is no way I can put the enormity of it into words ... you just have to go. You REALLY have to go. I was surpised by the jungle/rain forest climate. Everything is green and colorful, which is a difference from the Sacred Valley.

The Incas really did a bang up job building this village. It's just unimaginable how well preserved it is. There are HUGE boulders sitting in the middle of some areas, in the process of being moved when they fled and abandoned the village for fear of the Spanish.

Below I tried to capture the colorful plantlife, and I included a picture of a chinchilla we saw.
I'm so exhausted I'm going to eat some Pringles and go to bed.
Adios - Viva El Peru!!

Sacred Valley Day 3

I can't think of how best to describe the Sacred Valley other than to say it simply cannot be described. It literally takes your breath away at first sight from how massive it is. I am posting a few of the best shots, but they are mediocre in comparison. You can sort of tell how huge the steps are in one of the pictures if you look for the tiny tiny people near the top.

I was also amazed by the activity on the side of the road in the towns we drove through to get to the archeological sights. Horses, llamas, alapcas, pigs, cows just strolling down the path. And the woman lugging all of their produce. It was a century and a world away.

The animals here must be the sleepiest in the world. They are sacked out all over the place, to the point that you think they are surey dead ... until the take their time getting up to change spots. You'll also notice I am obssessed with the children here. They are gorgeous!

Today and tomorrow it's me and two couples in their mid 60s who are quite amused by me. They cannot understand that I'm on this trip alone and they laugh at me constantly when I'm not even joking. They are fabulous - and they usually make it up the hills faster than I do. I'm pretty sure I go to bed about an hour before them, too.
Machu Picchu tomorrow ... the main event!

Cuzco Day 2 - City Tour and Surrounding Ruins

First of all, here's a shot of last night's folk show. That's me dacing with one of the characters. I guess they felt sorry for the solo girl sitting at a table for five. The show was hokie but fun and I'm glad I went. Plus, now I will be in 135 high schoolers' "Peru trip 2009" scrapbook for all eternity.

Today was another amazing day and the first on my official guided tour. There were about ten of us, including another girl traveling alone, which is how I managed to be in some of the pictures. It was beautiful outside of the city - if this was just the ruins I can't fathom what the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu will be like tomorrow and Wednesday. It's incredible what archeologists have been able to determine about all of the old structures and crazy to think there were human sacrifices and kings and idol worship going on right where I was standing. 

What I can't figure out is how the streets here are overflowing with alpacas and stray dogs, but are immaculately clean, while you cannot walk two feet in Paris without stepping in dog mess. 

Cuzco, Peru Day 1

Cuzco is like nothing I have ever seen. The closest thing I can think of is Santa Fe, but it really is amazing. had lunch at a little hipster tourist joint for about 4 dollars. Headed to a folk show tonight, which should be interesting. Here are a couple of shots I took today - but none of them do it justice.

These Alpaca animals are everywhere and dogs roam free in restaurants. The city is very poor and thrives on tourism.

Ole!

I'm in Lima - watchign some kids play street ball on a Saturday night. The hotel is safe but Jordan wouldn't last one minute. I'm thinking Econo Lodge - Athens, Ga. circa 1992.