Cusco, Peru

Arriving in Cusco nearly a week prior to setting off to trek the Inka Trail, Marielle and I were fortunate to be able to explore the city and sign up for some cool activities. We had stayed occupied with a tour of the sacred valley- that was rather jam packed and didn´t quite allow for as much independent exploring of the inka ruins as I thought there would be. (proof being- whenever we took off from the numerous stops we had, it was either myself or Marielle that was doddling behind and being motioned to hurry up) .BUT I did manage to run about the two sites that we were brought to of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. The latter of the two was too filled with people but if you go for a quick jaunt through one of the ruins you find a trail leading up the hillside that gives you a view from a low flying birds eye- that was a standout moment for me. Another of our Cusco days detailed a ride out to the countryside, where we adventured into whitewater rafting, boogie body board rafting, and kayaking in the Urubamba River. The day was accompanied with some wonderful rafting mates, zipling and a traditional sauna at the end. We were fortunate enough to catch up with our friends from before, Toby, Tom, Michael, and some of their lovely girlfriends that were acquired throughout the way. The whole lot of us went out for an amazing very family-esk dinner, that was absolutely lovely. Then later in the night, old habits of partying together returned. We also had a few other days of perusing markets, a choclate museum, and upon returning from the Inka Trail- a spa day, and a lunch out to the contryside for some traditional roasted cuy (aka guinea pig-teeth, claws and all)....don´t fret, there IS photo evidence of this. That above is the brief overview of Cusco in a very small nutshell. The Inka Trail and Machu Pichu will get a post of it´s own.

Love,
Megs

Puno, Peru March 27-30

So after an amazing time in Bolivia, the need to venture on to Peru was very pressing as the date to be in Cusco prior to our trek was becoming closer and closer. Initially the idea of relaxing on the beaches of Copacabana and Isle de la sol on the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca was tempting. BUT due to protesting roadblocks that appeared to be lasting for days, we instead changed plans to cross the border elsewhere and head to Puno (on the Peruvian side and a bit north on Lake Titicaca). The journey there was interesting as we changed several tiny buses, and I was being fussed over and fed by these traditionally dressed rural Peruvian women. (It was pretty funny as they manuevered all their produce-including, eggs, bags of corn, beans and a child or two- and themselves into the back seat, there-by squishing Toby into the window, and I into Marielle.-using every possible viable space that can be had.) We did arrive to Puno a whole wopping 5 minutes earlier than Paul and Vicky, that had left nearly an hour or two after us from La Paz-they opted to taxi the whole way-only spending about twenty to thirty soleils more than us-shoot! We had a relaxing day exploring the artisan shops gathering gifts for people back home, and I a sweater to keep from freezing to death (It´s freezing there due to the high elevation- and our living quarters weren´t quite up to snuff for keeping adequate warmth.) We bid Toby a brief farewell over dinner that night as he departed for Cusco the next morning, the same time we were planning to leave for a two day exploration of Lake Titicaca. No tears were shed, but it was sad to see him go. The two days on Lake Titicaca (a HUGE glacier fed lake) was wonderful. It felt great to be out on the water with the sun on our skin. We had a short visit to these floating islands, where the indigenous people make their islands, homes, and boats from the straw and reeds that grow around the island, they have to always be adding fresh straw to the lake to maintain it´s ´floating´ status. The short visit felt a bit like a gimicky tourist thing- but they really do live this way-pretty neat. Then we went to an island for a home stay with a wonderful family. At this island there was a hike to the point (or summit of the islands hill) of the island where there are two worshipping areas- The temple of Pachu-papa (the point of a lower hill of the island) and Pachu-mama the more evidently respected force in South America´s Culture that we started hearing about in Bolivia. The peak of Pachu-mama is the highest and less frequented by the tourists---so obviously I went up there. It was amazing, so serene, so peaceful, just great. It is tradition to leave a stone representing your burdens at a mantle along the trail and then make an offering of three coca leaves at the Pachu-mama site. It was so healing being up there, with the lake surrounding you all over, beautiful stone work, nature, the sun setting=magic. That night I had probably the most amazing drink I´ve ever had; of a hot tea with the leaves of coca, eucalyptus and moonya, with Pisco; so so delicious. Julia, our family host had made us a lovely dinner of quinoa soup (which is pleasantly everywhere in Peru-mmm) and dressed us up in traditional colourful skirts, blouses, and shawl (Paul got a pauncho) and took us out dancing. It was amazing, her and her husband had been so hospitable, so lovely. We bid them farewell, and ventured to another island the next day -which again had amazing views and landscape- and then we ventured back to Puno. We had a great goodbye dinner with Vicky and Paul; they were returning to Bolivia, and us,off to Cusco!!

Love, love, love,

Megan