Peru - quick update

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Caught our flight from Santiago OK and made the connection at Lima for Cuzco.

Not at all what I expected. Yes it's in avalley surrounded by mountains but the 'plain' in the middle is a long flat slope.

Felt the altitude for the first couple of days but we are all fine.

Had some lovely grub and some disappointing stuff - still trying to find a decent cup of coffee.

Lots of frustrating but unimportant hitches. Fun taxi rides. Superb scenery, lots of walking.

Machu Picchu is the place everyone goes, it costs lots to get there and in my view the site itself has equals, but the setting is incredible. Owen and I clambered to the top of Waynapicchu, the tall conicall hill on the rhs of standard photos - it is 2700m above sea level.

Will update with more details later - but I have to add the boys have not eaten guinea pig yet.

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Photos

A backward look
View climbing Waynapicchu. You can see the diagonal trail that we have taken so far.

Scary Steps
Not all parts of the track were true tracks, or stairways. This is an 'external' set of steps onto a terrace.

Looking down on Machu Picchu
Does it resemble Krusty the Klown ?

May Day parade in Cuzco
I thought I wouldn't get to see Morris dancers this year !

Troops patiently waiting
There were dozens of groups of people in the Mayday parade. These troops were in a line snaking back through the streets.

3 wise monkeys
Me, Rory and Owen eating massive mandarins in the welcome shade

Owen posing by the fountain
The fountain in the main square provides welcome shade and wet relief for the kids