Nick and I started off at 8:00 AM Local Time with breakfast at the Ramada Hotel before heading across the street to the airport for departure to Cusco. So far no rain but very overcast, it looks and feels like Europe in winter with the clouds hanging low and dismal looking. The airport here in Lima is very modern and very efficient. We buzzed through check-in in minutes with only a very short delay to pay an airport fee of S/20 “Soles” per person, which is about $6.75 US (that’s what they call their money, the unit of currency is a “Sol” which is about 33 Cents US). We were through to the departure lounge in 20 minutes with plenty of time to relax. Unfortunately, all the shops are prior to passing through security so there is not much to do once you clear.
Arrived Cusco at 12:30 and not a cloud in the sky (well almost), excellent weather around 75 degrees and sunny. Retrieved our bags and met our car for a 20 minute ride through to the city to the Casa Andina Private Collection Hotel in the heart of Cusco. Like most of the hotels in town it is a converted mansion from colonial times built in the typical Spanish style. Barbara and Kelsey were waiting for us as we arrived and we had a great reunion! How nice to see Kelsey who I have not seen since May when she departed for Buenos Aries!
After a cup of Cocoa Tea which is supposed to help with the altitude adjustment, Cusco is at 11,021 feet above sea level, we settled into our new rooms. We almost immediately headed out to explore the city wondering around the many plaza’s and local artisan shops. We stopped for lunch at a restaurant overlooking the Plaza De Armes where we ate on the balcony watching local life pass by. Here in this plaza is located a beautiful Cathedral as well as a smaller church of the “Compania de Jesus” (the Jesuits).
We heard all about the adventures Barbara and Kelsey had both in the Jungle as a well as exploring the outskirts of Cusco where they took a taxi to the town of Pistu in the Sacred Valley and later took a 2 ½ hour horseback ride to see other, more remote ruins as well.
We wondered the city a bit more and then headed back to our hotel for a rest, I have to say I was completely knocked out and am not sure whether it was the beer I had for lunch or adjusting to the altitude!
Later we met our guides and the rest of our Trekking group, three other families; from CT, Oakland CA, and Holland. Two of the other families have children along as well, one is a girl the same age as Kelsey and the Dutch family have a boy 16 who a few months younger than Nick. We reviewed the agenda and plans for the next day.
We decided to eat right in the hotel restaurant, where the food was excellent, and then call it an early night as we were due to hit the road at 7:00 AM the next day. For me this was a great suggestion as I think I am having a real challenge adjusting to the altitude with an incredible headache even after our mid-afternoon siesta!
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