PERU.... Beutiful!

After Hitchhiking to the Chilean city closest to Peru I rested for the night before continuing north. To get across the border I hopped in an old station wagon with six other people and we headed into Peru. After an easy border crossing we made it to Tacna Peru well know for its cheap pirated clothing. Not wanting to spend the night in this famous city I got the next bus headed to Cuzco. 20 some hours later we pulled into the touristy city in the sky (elevation 10912 ft). In the following days I managed to meander around most of Cuzco, check out the sacred Valley, get my wallet stolen, and book a tour to Machu Picchu.

The tour to Machu Picchu was a 4 day 3 night trip that Incorporated biking, hiking, hot springs, and ruins. Unable to wait until late August to and book the Inca Trail this was a fun alternative. The fist day was 4 hours of downhill biking. With the group of 10 plus a guide we stayed in basic accommodation and ate normal, but delicious meals of soup, rice covered in french fries, onions, meat, and sauce, and drank the traditional coca tea. The second day was a long and beautiful hike. Excitement was added by the exposed trails, being able to eat numerous kinds of wild fruits (avocados, oranges, lemons, bananas, and a few delicious, but unidentified), and a cable car river crossing. The day ended with hot springs, a beer or two and stars. The third day was some long kilometers on the train tracks. Not too stimulating, but in a way meditative. When we finally reached Aguas Calientes our balance was improved from walking kilometers on the the tracks and we didn't mind going to be early in preparation for the following morning's 4:30 start. We began in the dark and climbed over 1400 steps to arrive for a spectacular sunrise on top of an astounding Peruvian mountain, Machu Picchu! The Ruins were amazing, but their location and surrounding were what made them one of our world's many wonders. It was easy to understand when the Inca Kings chose the spot... its one of the most beautiful places in the world. We spent most of the day exploring and climbing the nearby mountain called Wynapicchu. That night we trained and bussed back to Cuzco. The following day I sat back for another 20 plus hour bus ride to Lima. There I had the pleasant experiences of; riding in a cab with a bin Laden air freshener, catching movies in the theater for a $1, and seeing a shampoo model. Leaving Peru was harder than any country before. To go to Costa Rica I needed a Yellow Fever vaccination 10 days in advance, which I didn't have, and $31 dollars in cash for the exit tax, which I also lacked. The long and short of it is I surfed in Costa Rica and I am currently in the States, NOT PERU! It could have been worse.

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