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I saw my very first llama in Cusco!
As we boarded the two tiered Cruz del Sur at 8 PM, we comfortably sprawled out in the "cama's" as American's would call "recliners" and immediately put ourselves to sleep with iPods as our lullaby. The tunes of Pitbull rocked me to sleep. Occasionally, the unpaved roads jostled me awake. Overall, a painless trip.
Upon our arrival in Cusco at 6:45 AM, we were greeted by an impatient taxi driver with a sign "Cristina Howard" (so we were 45 minutes late, no need to get your panties in a bunch especially when I didn't jump ugly on you for spelling my name wrong). He speed raced along the dirt roads, and by 7:15 we were checked into Hostel Loreto. Our room is equipped with an Incan Wall, two full size beds with four very thick blankets, (Completely essential because the hostel is lacking insulation), an upgraded but freezing bathroom, with limited hot water, and my favorite, Wifi!
A "brief" four hour nap and we were on our way through the streets of Cusco looking for a recommended chicken place and cerveza. (Can a person really have too much cerveza?) Unfortunately for
us, the cerveza was skunked and well we took it as a sign to wait after 5pm to have a refreshing beverage.
Our hotel is a hop, skip, and a jump to four Incan ruins with (what Michelle says) breathtaking view of Cusco, while I felt my breath was being taken away as I slowly hauled up the steps of the ruins. Luckily, we had a taxi driver and guide in one. Only issue is that el solamente habla espanol! However, he spoke slowly (despacio-typical of those native to this region) with attempts to explain concepts in different ways for us to comprender. Peru is giving my Spanish a run for my money as many taxi drivers, hotel employees, waiters, and guides, speak limited or no English. My Spanish is surely improving and I know my Bella would be very happy!
Our first stop was Sacsaywaman, or as Americans and especially my Auntie Esther would say "Sexy Woman." I, however, call it Llama City. My face lit up as Michelle heard me cry out "Llama!" The Quechuan (native people) definitely thought I was crazy, but were happy when I gave them one sol to take a picture with
their llama. We walked around the ruin for about an hour receiving a tutorial of each area of the ruin, learning how the walls were built, the patience needed to create such structure, and how the Spanish destroyed it to use the rock to build their empire. (As a teacher my wheels are alway turning and I thought of a wonderful integrated unit for the fifth grade). We continued on to visit Q,enqo, Pukapukara, and Tambomachay smaller ruins near to Sacsaywaman until sundown. We were chilled to the bone. We ended the evening with an awesome dinner at Candiles Restaurant, gorging on Causa Chicken (shredded chicken and sliced avocado layered in a potato), Papa Rellena (potato filled with meat and veggies), and Asparagus Soup (to warm our insides). A "hot" shower and it was early to bed for the two of us.
An early wake up was in order (Tuesday) for our day trip to a small pueblo northeast of Cusco, called Huanca. Unfortunately, Michelle was feeling a bit under the weather so I was flying solo on this trip. This gave me some quality Christina, Christina time! On the agenda, was to horseback up the Andes to the
Incan ruin, Tipon. Of course, I had the horse with the big personality and appetite. The entire path was an all you can eat buffet for Wayna (my horse). Often, I found myself in shrubs until he was satisfied. I would give him lectures of the dangers of eating too much and how obesity is a prevalent problem in today's society. I continued to tell him that even though he is still a growing horse it sooner or later would catch up to him and go straight to his butt. He looked at me funny and continued to eat throughout the four hour journey and I just let him do as he pleased.
The scenery was spectacular, and literally took my breath away (this time figuratively). The sky was a crisp blue with a few puffy clouds. The clouds were touching the peaks of the mountain and I felt that if I just stretched my arm high enough I would be able to touch them. Everything was green and brown and at times, we would run into a herd of sheep or cows. You could hear the sounds of birds overhead and springs trickling. It was surreal.
As
we came across different pueblos, Quechuans, worked in the field and I would just watch admiring their simple lifestyle. Throughout the entire ride, I thought how my life would be so much different if I were to live like that. I love how these trips remind me how lucky I am to live the way that I do, have the family and friends that I do, and have the ability and courage to have these different experiences. Every so often, Joann, a woman from Seattle, who also was on this ride would call back to see if I was ok. "I am just taking it all in!" I would holler back.
It took about an hour and forty five minutes to get to Tipon! I walked around with Joann telling her my life story of where I grew up, the Cuban family tree (that really my cousins aren't really blood related), how I ended up in Boston, and of course how one of my best friends married my cousin. I learned about her job, her children, and how she survived the Incan Trail at the age of 61. Then, it was time to jump on the caballos for more bonding
time with Wayna. With no casualties, we arrived to the hacienda safely, I had a lovely lunch with Joann, and then it was time for me to return to Cusco to make sure my Michelle was feeling better! I said my goodbyes and I left with the feeling that this was a perfect day and one of my all time favorite adventures.
Now, I am exhausted and supporting an I-rode- a-horse-all-day-swagger. I'm putting myself to bed in my heavily blanketed bed. And well...as far as Michelle she feels much better, toured the Incan Museum, and is extremely cold. At this moment, she is using the hair dryer to warm her pillows.
Stay tuned...
Christina
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