Moving Right Along

As I finally approached my gate I was glad that I had planned a long layover because I would have been panicky with the long delay experienced at the counter. I did not see Madeline at all land as it turned out when she did arrive that her flight had indeed been delayed on both ends. Luckily her wait at the counter was about half of mine. I quickly spotted two ladies who just looked like they would be in my group and as I got closer I saw the bright orange identifying tags on their luggage so we chatted and Mitch and Marshall joined Carol and Carolyn and I and then Madeline arrived shortly before our 11:59 pm take off. That was considered Tour DAY ONE!

 The flight was one of the best I have been on. The seat had plenty of space between me and the seat in front, their was no one next to me and I got really comfortable after my long day and snuggled into the very warm, large, and propped my pillow against the window to try to sleep...something I am not good at at home much less on a plane! I was glad I wasn't sleeping because they served one of the most delicious flight dinners I have ever had. I did finally try to sleep and didn't but did doze and didn't even try to watch a movie. We arrived in Lima promptly at 5:39 am and quickly moved through the almost empty luggage collection and customs process. He took us upstairs where there were familiar names and explained the boarding process for the one hour flight to Cuzco.

  While we waited we got to know the other 33 in our group. We met more of our group and everyone seems very interesting and quite diversified. Mike and Ursula are a young couple from Toronto. He is originally from New York but love changes everything. He is going to be getting his Canadian papers and will have dual citizenship. He says it is easier to travel ont he Canadian passport. Craig and Lucy are also from Toronto and their daughter is taking both the American and the Canadian Boards to be an Optometrist.

 We were met in Cuzco by Luis who is our guide while here. Cuzco is over 11,000 feet above sea level so they promptly loaded our luggage into a bus and we boarded for the two hour drive to Yucay. This area in The Sacred Valley is only 8,000 ft so we will have better luck aclimetizing. Along the way we stopped at the highest point of just over 12,000 feet to view the green valley below. This valley sacred to the Incas was not where they actually lived. They perched on the mountain sides,building terraced fields which are still in use today. They came into the valley below to meet, create their business centers, and join forces against the Spanish. And to farm the flat lands.  I did not know that in this sacred valley was the birthplace of one of the most sacred crops to the Irish...the potato.  Today there are still grown here over 800 varieties of spud brought to Europe first by the Spanish Conquistadors.

When we finally arrived at Posada Sonesta we found a beautiful former monastery which is now a comfortable and very expensive, gracious hacienda.  The spacious courtyards and lovely central garden is surrounded by big rooms with very fancy bathrooms and reclaimed wood floors if the originals were gone.  Outside our window are Alpacas grazing, and snow capped Andes!

We were welcomed with hot Coca tea and gigantic old fashioned room keys.  And boy did that room look good to me.  I was really going to enjoy my over-pillowed queen sized bed but first a welcome cocktail. I apologize for my spelling of local items because of the language barrier and my only Spanish is horticulture related.  I think the frothy, limey drink was a Pissac Sour.  everyone introduced themselves and we headed off to a delightful dinner around the stone fireplace of the hotel restaurant called the INKAFE!

The very fancy service really set off the nicely plated dishes.  I had an appetizer of brochettes of beef, chicken and alpaca.  Yes, alpaca which was quite good, light in color like pork, taste a little like beef and a little chewy.  I followed this with delicious chicken and a fruit salad.  I avoid salads of greens when you can only drink the bottled water.

I thought for sure I would crash as it had been over about 37 hours since I had first gotten out of bed Sunday morning.  I guess I was over tired because sleep did not come.  So I started writing this blog and am struggling to learn the Tablet differences.  Last night, for example I had no trouble adding pictures but have wasted a valuable hour tonight trying to show you the McDonald's and Papa John's and Dunkin Donuts at the Cuzco airport and some photos of this lovely hotel nestled in the majestic mountains.  I will try to get better but took so much time that I thave not told you about today.

It will have to wait.  I need to shower and get some sleep  tomorrow we set out ...down hill...to Machu Picchu itself.