We got to Cuzco at around 10:00 the next morning and the first thing I noticed was less humidity than Lima (which often has 100% humidity but almost never rains) and that my heart was pounding like I had just been running. It took me a while to figure out it was from the altitude. We were at around 3300 m above sea level (Edmonton is under 700 m.) I also started to feel sick and had a headache. Luckily we had nothing planned for that first day in the morning, so I just slept. When I woke up, my body was used to the altitude, and I felt alot better, but heart kept beating really hard the entire 4 days we were there. Even just walking around made it pound like I had run a marathon. In the afternoon, we went on a city tour of Cuzco. Our first stop was the Plaza de Armas, the central plaza of Cuzco. It had two curches, which is strange for any plaza in South America, normally they only have one. We went into the bigger one. We were not allowed to take pictures, but I wish I could have. There were about 20 alters all over the giant cathedral and all of them were covered in gold or silver or both. And they were huge some of them over 2 stories high, covered completely in gold. It was really beautiful. After the church, we took the bus to another monastery. In the central courtyard of the monastery had been built various room and small temples to show tourists Incan construction like that at Machu Picchu. After the monastery, we went outside Cuzco to where there were Incan ruins. First, we saw the ruins of a giant temple where they hold the Festival of the Sun during the winter soltice in July. We also went to a cave where they found the first tattoed mummy from the Incas. Then, we took the bus to another temple where there were three fountains that are still working from Incan times. There, we were over 3500 m above sea level. My host brother, who was still not used to the altitude, decided it was a good idea to run up the hill to the temple, and almost fell over at the top. If you drink from the fountains, depending on which one, you get youth, knowledge or fertility.
The next day was what I had been looking forward to the entire trip. We got up aroun 4am to go to the train station to Machu Picchu!! I was ok getting up too early, I was too excited to be tired. The train ride was about 4 hours, to the town of Aquas Calientes, the last little town before Machu Picchu. You can only take the train there, because otherwise there would waaaay too many tourists there. From Aquas Calientes, we took a bus for about 30 mintues in a zig-zag up the mountain to Machu Picchu. It was so beautiful, right in the middle of the jungle. Because of all the trees, you couldn't really see much of the ruins until you were right in the front gates, then suddenly, you could see them all. They were huge, way bigger than I ever thought they were. I decided to go in an English tour separate from my mom and brother to give myself a break. Our tour guide was really good, and knew alot. But most important was how amazing the ruins were. They were so beautiful. I still don't understand how they built something that huge on the side of a mountain, out of such huge rocks. Our tour lasted about 3 hours. I really wanted to stay longer, to see more, but we had to get back to Aquas Calientes to eat lucnh before the train came. But, hopefully I will get to go back. :) We got back to Cuzco at night and I went to bed right away, I was so exhausted from all the walking and climbing.
The next day, around 9am, we were picked up for our last tour. We went to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. That was the route they took to get to Machu Picchu, so there were lots of ruins. First we went to the town of Pisac, to a market. There, they raised guinea pigs to eat!! I never ate one, but apparently they are delicious. We did a tour through the entire valley, through all the little towns where the "campesinas" (country people) live and grow over 50 types of corn and potatoes. We stopped at a buffet restaurant for lunch. Across the road was a store that sold things made from alpaca wool. It was all so soft, and really expensive. After lunch, we went to what I call Mini Picchu because I can't remember the name of it :P It looked a lot like Machu Picchu, but smaller. We climbed to the top, and you could see the entire Sacred Valley. It was beautiful. After the ruins, we went to a town to another traditional market and an old church. In the market, they sold popcorn covered in sugar. The popcorn was made of white corn from the valley, and the kernals are 4 or 5 five times bigger than normal corn, so the popcorn was giant, almost as big as a small plum, and sooooo good. I bought two bags of it and ate it all :) We took the bus back to Cuzco and by the time we arrived, it was dark.
Monday, our last full day in Cuzco, was a free day. I went with my mom to the plaza and the market one last time. We ate at a restaurant at the plaza that made pizza in a giant mud oven, that made the pzza crust really crispy. We left at 7 the next morning from the airport in Cuzco. When we got to Lima around 8, I realized my heart had suddenly stopped beating hard. It was so strange how it just immediatly slowed down when I got off the plane. We had the whole day to wait, because the only flight to Lima was at 9 at night. We went to a hotel in Old Lima and I slept and read almost the whole time. We ate lunch at the plaza, and I had one last glass of Chicha Morada. At 7, we were picked up for our flight. I thought we should have gone earlier, because the traffic was crazy in Lima at that time, but we were on time (barely) for the flight. We got back to Santiago around 2 Chilean time (one hour ahead of Peru).
I was exhausted from the trip, but it was soooo amazing, especially Machu Picchu. It went way too fast, and I really hope I get to go back some day.
Instead of uploading a few photos, you can look at this album I made of my photos of Peru:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=111197&l=abdb0&id=841485230
