The Last Day

Okay. This is it   We head home tomorrow the day in Cusco is packed although we don’t start until 9am. First stop a walk to the monastery.  We had been there before but I didn’t remember until we were almost done.  Next the cathedral. Patty and I took a gander.  We decided to op for shopping instead of another church   Much more fun.  

Next stop was Sacsayhuamán just above Cusco.  Large stones and a monumental undertaking of the Incas    Afterward we returned to the hotel with free time for 2 hours.  I am glad we had a January trip or I would have felt cheated.  The other sites are nearby and tell important stories.  It does open up the possibility of going to the market.  I ask for a map and get directions. The street is a Y Dan thinks we should take the upper road. None of the streets are on the map. So to google maps we go for directions.   It seems to take a while to walk the .6 miles that is for sure.  Eventually we arrive at the market. It it as crazy as I remember.   It is a marathon shopping experience since we have to walk back without getting lost, finish packing and bags out.  I will do a nurse thing since since one of our members who was going on to Lake Titicaca only had 2 more altitude medication pills left and went to the pharmacy. 

So with all that planning if we had stopped at some of the stores on the way to the market by going the correct route we would have avoided the market since I saw all the same things and had time for lunch at the JW.  We really wanted some of the garlic shrimp.  Oh well, maybe next time. 

Everything done we had some cookies and Coke Zero for lunch just before getting on the plane. 

I haven’t mentioned the weather.  When we left San Diego it looked like 50-90% every day for most hours. Well the only rain that affected us was when we were getting onto the bus to leave Cusco for the airport and then we had 5 minutes that actually had hail although it did not feel cold outside. Do even though we expected rain the sun shone brightly making for a great trip. 

On to Machu Picchu

Our hotel was terrific in the sacred valley but it was nothing compared with our Machu Picchu hotel. The grounds are heavily planted with ferns, orchids and other plants. The hotel has tours throughout the garden and specialty tours like making your own tea or bird watching.

The plan for today is the train to Machu Picchu then wait for the bus to the top   We have lunch at the buffet restaurant at the top near the entrance to Machu Picchu.  After lunch we start our exploration.  Yes the steps were as high and as bad as I remember and I was not any faster than last time.

We finish up and take the bus down.  Then have to hike to the hotel.  The hotel sits on a hill so there are tons of steps to get to the office to check in. We have a room that is fairly close to the office. It is a beautiful room. Still with two double beds but does and a robe if you want a trip to the spa.  The best part with turn down service was they put a hot water bottle in your bed to warm it.

Dinner at the restaurant you could order off the menu.  The alcohol was separate but dinner included dessert and there was a welcome pisco sour. The problem became that I forgot you should just have 1 pisco sour.  I did not have a good night and the next day was rocky but it seems I was in good company. Several members of the tour felt some of the same symptoms most GI cramming and diarrhea.  Every blames the food at the buffet

The next morning you could go back up the mountain, climb The Machu Picchu steps and then go on a trail called the Inka Bridge trail. 4 members of our group went   Seems it was tough very narrow but great photos especially of the mountains and clouds coming down.  The rest of us hung out at the hotel or did some shopping in town.  It was a quiet day which was great for me dice my GI track was on overdrive.  In the late afternoon we took the train all the way to Poroy just outside Cusco. Yes the fashion show happened again. So the car attendants greet people, serve food,, sell alcohol, and have to model clothes or sweaters and collect money and pick up any used items.  Yes our group spent money. It was a good day for Sol Alpaca.

We get to the hotel at 9pm and sit down to have dinner. Dan and I opt not to eat but go to our room.  Eating at 9pm would be a disaster for us.  I am hoping sleep will help and improve my GI track since tomorrow is a travel day.

We made the train and up the steps!

Trip to chinchero. Notice snow on glacier

Trip to Ollantaytambo

Photos of the hotel grounds

Our day in the sacred valley

Today we have several stops exploring the sacred valley. First stop Ollantaytambo.  This archeological site we saw before.  Unfortunately our guide did not allow as much time to fully appreciate the Incas and their ability to control water. We did have time to climb to the top of the steps which I had no desire to do. I am glad we were able to explore and see this site in January as today’s visit is so short

Next the market.  Not a trinket market but a fruit and food market.  It was interesting since we have not seen many fruits growing.  At lunch we were served the fruit for dessert.  So a first time eating passion fruit.

After the market we are off to Chinchero. This is a village of the weavers.  We are served lunch. It is a 4 course lunch with several sides.  Peruvians eat their big meal at lunch.  So we start with fried corn meal spiced with onion. Then soup, then chicken accompanied by rice , three types of potatoes, fresh vegetables, tomatoes, carrots etc plus a few other things I have forgotten.

Next the ladies showed us how they created the wool and dyed the wool. Next the loom.  8 families live in this cooperative but each Weaver is responsible to sell their own wears and keeps the profits. All of the things are made of alpaca or wool.

Back to the hotel for dinner. Food is plentiful on this trip. The hotel we have will be at for 2 nights.  Tomorrow to Machu Picchu.