Machu Picchu

We are staying at the base of the steep sheer cliff mountains of Machu Picchu, with the beautiful Urubamba river flowing by. A four hour train ride from Cusco through valleys, jungles, snow-capped peaks brought us to Aguas Calientes -- this is one beautiful country! The sacred valley of the Incas. Our hotel Gringo Bill´s gave us the best room with a view of four mountains and the funky little town with visitors from all over the world. At 6 am we awoke and took the shuttle bus up unpaved switchbacks to the site of Machu Picchu before most everyone and had it almost to ourselves. The low morning clouds sometimes obscuring everything, then shifting, transforming and revealing this awesome sight through the mist.

So filled with energy and beauty, the perfection, the spiritual intention of the architecture, the magic fills you. It took 100 years to construct but it´s impossible to imagine. By 9 the clouds lifted and Mark was way up on the summit of Wayna Picchu, the mountain behind Machu Picchu, seeing everything from 360 degrees, and I was exploring the ciudad Machu Picchu alone, finding an incredible picture around every corner. It is a dream come true to be here!!


Later that evening we find a French Peruvian fusion restaurant and have the best meal of the entire adventure, local trout with a sauce we can´t identify but tasty and spicy, quinoa-stuffed peppers and Peruvian potatoes, you just have to eat potatoes in Peru.

PERU!!!!

May 1 we arrived in Arequipa, charming second largest city in Peru. We stayed at ¨La Casa de Mi Abuela¨ or the house of my grandmother, and it was an oasis nestled at the foot of snow-covered peaks but only 5 blocks from the main square of Arequipa --

the adventure to see the condors in the Colca Valley followed -- here is Mario with our driver Carlos and Mauricio, our guide. . . .

and one of the fantastic condors