Lima to Cusco...

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Sorry for the delay in posting...but the chances to upload and blog are more sparse than I anticipated...we are just to busy traveling and doing activities...nothing wrong with that right?

Before we begin our moto tour around Peru, we decided to do a few extra days in Cusco to visit Machu Pichu. We flew out of Lima where it was chilly and constantly overcast due to the Humbolt ocean current from the Antartic, and up over into the middle of the Andeas mountains to sunny and warm Cusco at almos 12000 feet!

We arrive without a hitch and are escorted to our hostel just on the edge of the center of town, where we are greeted by the traditional Coca tea treatment (above picture) then off to bed for a nap to be able to adjust to the altitude. Yes, its the same thing that Cocaine is made from, but in its whole form its legal and a very useful medicinal herb. Its so popular that its used in everything from toffee, breakfast cereals, beers...

We enjoy some time together with our new travel companions over a traditional Peruvian dinner in a nice cozy place. I have a light Quinoa broth soup and others enjoy the single most common dish around Peru...Lomo Saltado (picture above). This dish is made of sauteed beef, purple onion, tomato, french fries with a gravey of some type and always served with white rice...they love their starches here!

We wake early for a 5 hour bus/train ride down the scenic Urabamba valley (picture above) to the small town of Aquas Calientes, were some folks get off early to hike 4+ hrs to Machu Pichu. I settle in to our lodging and decide on the self guided hike up to the Ruins. It is literally a stair case to the heavens...3k vertical feet in about 2 miles, and though its lower than Cusco 10k ft elevation catches up with you fast!

I arrive at the Ruins late in the afternoon, when its crawling with tourists who rode the bus to the top, and I rest a bit enjoying the majestic views before pushing on to an even higher mountian called Montaña Machu Pichu, another 3k ft straight up! On this isolated trail Im runnnig low on time, water and food, but I was blessed to meet some Aussies who gave me a snack bar made of honey, puffed Quinoa/Kiwicha, and of course coca powder. Then later on I found a bottle of water...Im destined to reach the top. Buy the time I reach the top, about 15k ft, Im spent, yet humbly grateful for the opportunity to experience a place surrounded by much history and mystery. Its pleasantly calm and peacful at the top, for being so high. I painfully make my way back to the bus for the evening.

We awake very early for a guided sunrise tour of the ruins, and the opportunity to be one of the 400 people to climb the famous Huanupichu (the mountain in the background of all the pictures of Machu Pichu). Im a little disapointed in just how touristy the site is, it looks like the base area of a ski resort...but Im thankful for the Peruvian Buffet and live music after another day of hiking at altitude. Before we head back to Cusco, we stop at the thermal baths along the river for a much needed soak and enjoy the steep mountain and snow capped peaks enrobing us...

My train planned to leave around 5pm, but was delayed for an hour which allowed me to shop the many vendors and pick up some exotic fruits to enjoy while I wait. I was excited to find Lucuma, passion fruit and Guyanabana, if you don t know them, then its impossible to explain...except for, very unique. Late into the night the train jumps a track and they have to off load everyone to a new train, further delaying my arrival till 1 am. Im more concerned about my other travel mates who where schedueled to leave later, after a nightmare of a story they arrive to Cusco at 6am!

We enjoy another day in Cusco to recover from out trip to Machu Pichu with more shops, great food and more coca tea and massages. We welcome the rest of our travel companions and celebrate the trip with a gathering at a local Biker bar, reminecent of any quality bar in the states and sleep early for the first day of adventure tomorrow...