Callao (Lima) Machu Picchu and Pisco Peru

We arrived back from Machu Picchu yesterday, completely exhausted but with memories that will last us a lifetime. 3 days of extreme fascination how this wonder of the world transpired.

We flew from Lima after arriving at the port of Callao to Cusco a 1 hour flight over some magnificent scenery of snow topped mountains and farms. Initially we were optimistic as to how we would handle the altitude of 11,200 ft. We had heard some horrendous stories of altitude sickness that had happened to others,fortunately we were not affected,we had tablets (not sure about those), drank copious amounts of water, had little alcohol and drank lots of Coco Tea. Apart from little sleep the first night,we handled it very well with no affects. Cusco is a beautiful City and it’s inhabitants unusual, we stayed at the Hotel Monasterio originally built in 1598 as a seminary for Catholic Priests. It is owned by the Orient Express and remains a National landmark and still retains it’s original characteristics and charm.

 After a huge 2 hour lunch we set off exploring Cusco and its Inca history and architecture. We visited the Main Square and the beautiful Cathedral, but by far the highlight of Cusco has to be Sacsayhuaman (more commonly known as sexy woman) a testimonial to Incan architectural skills. Compiled of massive stones some as big as 125 tons and we were challenged to try and slip a sheet of paper between the cracks of blocks cut and fitted together with incredible precision without any mortar whatsoever. It was absolutely mind boggling, this was the fortress where the greatest battles between the Spanish and the Incas took place and overlooks the red tiled roofs of Cusco.

At night we were treated to a beautiful dinner at the hotel. Our next day was unbelievable and spread over 16 and half hours, beginning with a 6 am start and a 2 hour bus trip to the Sacred Valley where the Inca trail begins, except we joined a deluxe train owned by the Orient Express called the Hiram Bingham named after the man who discovered Machu Picchu in 1911. The trip was very scenic with views of the Andean Mountain range and several small villages. On arrival at the MP station we then spent 30 mins. on a bus driving on a switch back road up the vertical cliff to the archeological site where we spent 3 hours with a very good guide who explained everything about the site and how the Incas built it and lived. To fully explain this would take hours of typing and reading, there are not enough superlatives to tell you what an amazing experience we enjoyed. Afternoon tea at the Sanctuary Lodge very nice.

Another trip down to the mountain to the train where we were served a 4 course dinner on the way back to the Sacred Valley and a 2 hour bus ride back to Cusco in pouring rain arriving at the hotel at 10.30 pm. We were wacked, but what a day!

                                                                Can you spot the rainbow.

Next day we were transported back to the Airport to fly back to Lima. A very short tour of Lima, (nothing to write home about) and then guess, another luncheon at Casa Aliaga, a preserved Colonial Mansion owned by the same family since 1535.

Back to the ship for the beginning of the second segment of our cruise 23 days to Buenos Aries. We had room service and crashed after Skypeing the Melbourne Marsden’s and Gloria speaking to her Mother by phone. We had an excursion today when we arrived at Pisco a very small port, but decided to cancel and just rest after our mammoth journey.PHEW!