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Published: November 19th 2014
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Cusco
Religious sculpture overlooking Cusco 8:00 AM
Landed in Lima using LAN airlines with no issues. The sky is grey and it is about 65 degrees. The customs process was a bit complicated, however the airport personnel were very pleasant and happy to help. Once I got through customs, my smarTour guide met me right at the gate. I’m now waiting for the flight to Cusco. One thing that makes this trip very easy is the fact that the time zones are aligned, it is the same time here as it was when I departed from Miami. I also made sure to hit the ATM to get Sols for the trip. My bank doesn’t charge a fee for international withdrawals, so check your bank’s policies to see if you should get Sols prior to your trip.
My carryon strategy worked perfectly and I slept well on the plane. I brought noise canceling headphones, a comfortable blindfold, and a memory foam neck pillow. I wore cozy socks, comfortable clothing, and used the blanket offered by the airline coupled with my pashmina over my shoulders. All of this I packed in my backpack (better than I wheeled bag for international travel). I
Sacsayhuaman Blessing Ceremony
Louisa doing a blessing ceremony in Quechua also doesn’t hurt that I took an Ambien as soon as I sat down in my seat. They did serve us a late dinner and I opted for the cheese ravioli. It wasn’t terrible and was paired with a small side salad, brie and crackers, and a strawberry cheesecake for dessert. When I finally woke in the morning, I found a bag of M&Ms beside me. Nice.
8:30 PM
We had a packed day today. After landing in Cusco, we were quickly whisked into two separate buses and trucked out to a special ceremony by Sacsayhuaman. A "shaman" did a blessing ceremony which required that I make a special wish, blow on coca leaves 3 times and have them offered to the earth mother. It was actually an interesting ceremony. Once everyone's coca leaves were gathered up along with other symbolic offerings, they were bundled up, placed on our heads while a bell was rung and then burned over a fire.
I'm going to take a second here to describe what it feels like to go through such a significant change in elevation. A short walk feels like you are breathing with a large animal
Alpaca Farm
Where we fed some greedy little Alpacas standing on your chest and you get a pounding headache. I understand from the others on my trip that I had it light. Just be prepared if you go to Peru. Drink plenty of water and have an aspirin in your bag.
After the ceremony we were bundled back up for a pit stop at a little shop that had restrooms and then drove for another 30 minutes to an alpaca farm. They had Vicuna, alpaca and llamas which we were able to feed and there was another cute little shop with souvenirs. Then back to the bus for a drive out through the Ancient Valley of the Inca. The scenery was breathtaking and my pictures do not do it justice.
Finally, we got to our destination hotel, Sonesta Posada del Inca Yucay Hotel. A beautiful property surrounded on all sides by the Andes. You can even see one of the glacial mountains from here. Just 5 minutes from Urubamba. It is a former 18th century colonial style monastery and has amazing gardens. It is so beautiful and peaceful here. Dinner at the hotel was ok, though the couple that I sat with was fascinating. He tried the
alpaca and said that it was very tasty, better than lamb, goat, or venison. I had a Peruvian style beef sauté with tomatoes and onions. The fried potatoes made the meal. If you don't know, Peru is the home of the potato and I believe there are thousands of different types native to Peru. Now, I am wrapping up my night in the hotel lobby area, with live Andean music, wood burning fireplace, and a nice relaxed atmosphere - all enjoyed with a Pisco sour while I update my blog.
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