25th October 2015-26th October 2015. Cusco (Sunday and Monday)

25th October

So upon landing at the airport, there was a lady that tried to get us to stay at her Hostel.  It was 140 soles for two nights for both of us (1 dollar is equal to 3 Soles).  So while Sandy arranged this, I got our Perurail tickets.  Sandy forgot to pick up her  bags and they were taken away, so she went to find them, and she disappeared.  So then I went to find her.  I asked the lady at the hotel place (in Spanish) where she was and she said bathroom, well she wasn't there.  But, I found her.  We were able to get a taxi through this lady to our hostel.  We decided to tour Cusco.  We had linner at 15:00.    I had Cream of Asparagus and Spaghetti Bolognesa without the cheese.  They made a special order for me.

 Now sadly, we were not able to take photos of most of the places in Cusco, so I felt I was in school again, taking down notes.   Now I wrote a lot, but I will just state here things that stood out to me.

We bought a city circuit tour for $10 which included the Basilica Cathedral, Archiepiscopal Museum, San Bla's Church, and San Cristobal's Church.  We will do San Cristobal tomorrow as it is far and there isn't enough time to see it.  Instead we saw La Compania de Jesus Church and Santo Domingo

the Basilica Cathedral has an organ that still works after 300 years!  There was a gold plated background of many depictions and statues representing important time frames in Christ's time or significant people in his life.  However, what intrigued me here was that Jesus Christ was depicted as black.  There was no explanation.  

At the Archiepiscopal Museum, there were many depictions of Saint Mary.  She was either holding a dove or had a dove above her.  The dove had yellow lines coming out (all lines were even).  They were yellow and so me I saw it as the rays fo the sun.  

San Bla's Church had a black Jesus Christ as well.  However, this was the first church where I saw large ornaments dipicting people on the lower circle, separated from the top circle by a dove.  The top circle had the arch angels.  

At La Compania de Jesus Church, we went to the second floor to take pictures from the balcony.  

There was a picture or sculpture (can't remember which one) of a black St. Mary.  Again no explanation..

Santo Domingo showed a room where there was a statue of Christ, laying in like a coffin dripped in dry blood after his death.  His genitals were covere by a blue  cloth embroidered in gold symbols and letters.  Saint Mary was looking over crying.  

I stopped at a market I saw and bought gifts and brought costs down to something I liked.  No yuka here.

For dinner we stopped at a juice place.  I got mine with no milk.  Mango, my favrite. 

Tonight we slept with the heater.  It was too cold!!

26th October

So plan is the following

1.  Qoricancha

2.  La Merced Church

3.  12 angle stone

4.  Inca Museum

5.  San Cristobal Church

6.  If we have time, Saqsaywaman

So breakfast for me was fruit juice and corn seeds.  The place we went for to get juice refused to just give me just grilled chicken.  So I survived on the Corn.  

Qoricancha.  Qri= gold and kancha= main temple

 or inticancha where inti means sun and cancha means enclsoure.    

There is a potrait of Saint Anthony who wears a robe that has the symbol "T" on it.  This comes from Egypt and means eternal life.  It eventually becme a cross which symbolizes protection.  

There is also a scupture of St. Mary pregant.  It is one of the oldest pieces in the church and is one of a kind as there are not many dpeictions of St. Mary pregnatn.  Spanish did not think it was elegant.  

We considered a group tour of the Sacred Valley but had to look at the logistics further.  So we walked on to La Merced Church and took a picture from the outside.  We were churched out.  Sandy found my snake.

We decided to go to San Cristobal Church since it was the furthest.  The church was like the rest.  Before we went in, Sandy relaxed and a guy came and told her about a horseback riding tour.  We first checked out the area and then went back to him for riding.  Since the destianton was in the middle of nowhere, I slowed down my pace in the event I had to run.  However, there were the horses, and my horse was Bruno.  We first rode to the Sun Temple.  There is a stone with a llama carving in it.  There is also a path that you an see which leads to different provinces and countires.  As we finished this area, we got cold rain with hail, and a horrible  wind.  It was so cold but we still went to our next destination Saqsawa.  so much for the Sun Temple giving us Sun.  

At our next destination I was allotted 15 minutes.  Sandy said she would wait because she was cold.  So I rain up the hill; it was hard to breath but i practice my techniques.  I go up and see a small ruins site.  Thinking it was bigger I ran around, asked a local and realized that it wasn't the bi one so i returned.   

Sandy did not want to go to the ruins or on the hill that has a huge white Christ.  I saw them so I took pictures from afar.  Our driver finally came 15 minutes late and took us down to the main plaza.  We had given him an extra10 soles each that he had planned on returning but did not.  

It was 15:00.  I was so famished and needed food.  A lady found us and talked to us about her restaraunt.  They were able to feed me.    I ordered oupa a la minuta (beef soup) and polla la plancha (chicken gril).  I also drank Coca tea to warm me up.

At the Inca Museum, I earned that the people did not carve the stones to make them fit, they used sun dried mud.

Also, there is a sculpture from 1550 that shows the shappe of Cusco back then and it was the shape of a puma.  

Markavalle was the 1st settlement in Cusco, 1000 B.C.  

Machu Picchu aws created for the Royal Hacienda for Inca Kupanar Pachuacuti (1438-1471)

 upon his request.  

The stories regarding the Ayar brothers and hw they found Cusco and how the Incas  believed the world started (Manco Copaq and Mama Ocllo).

Cusco means navel of the world.  

We then found the 12 sided stone where a young kid expecting money just started to explain the history.  He was no more than 8.  I tried to take a picture but there were too many people.  

In the evening we went to one of the major markets such that Sandy could buy gifts.  I bought fruit and small container pouch.    Agai no yuka, only at 12.  We went to a restaraunt, were going to do take out, but decided to stay there and eat.  I ordered a 1/4 chicken and it looked like I got 1/2.  My goodness.  I couldnt't finish.  There was a poor guy there so we left our food for him.  He was asleep.  

When we got to our hostel everything had been moved from our room and the door was open. They took it upon themselves to move our stuff without asking.    We got a triple bedroom and I checked if I had everything, Rule #1 always have your bas locked. My stuff was fine.  

Sandy made our taxi reservation reservations for tomorrow.  Time for bed.

27th October 2015, Tuesday Traveling

Today we woke up early.  I just had tea in the AM.  We got to our train stating and waited for about an hour.  Thankfully, they had heaters that we sat next to.  All day today was about resting and finishing my journals!  I haven't written anything since Lima.  The train was 3.5 hours.  We got to town and went to our hostel.  We relaxed then toured the market.  I found my flag pin!  I told the lady I would come back because I wanted food first, she didn't believe me, but I promised her.  Again no Ceviche nor Yuka.  Yuka would be served at 17:00.  We toured the market and bought things ( I did go back to the lady).  We bought bus tickets to Machu Picchu.  Round trip $24, open time.  I did a little bit of shopping and spent no more than 15 soles.  On our way back, we saw a place that had ceviche and requested for yuka.  They agreed!    Oh yea, I forgot we also saw a religious ceremony.

I got tea!  There was a birthday party and they offered us cake, of course I had to decline but Sandy took it.  I had cinammon tea in my room.  Sandy went to the hot springs, as I chilled in my room!  They have direct tv so I am practicing my spanish with movies I know!  I continued my journal entries.  Sandy did convert money for us (40$).  At around 18:00 we went for dinner.  Dogs kept coming in to beg for food like my dog once did.  I did give a bit to them, but they were kicked out.  I couldn't find the dog later.  Our fod came out to 91 soles!!!! Oh my gosh.  But, one nice dinner I guess is okay.  Tomorrow we won't be spending anything because we will be too busy hiking and eating left overs.  Sandy found her headphones- investigation is closed.  Good night!

24th October 2015-25th October 2015, Saturday and Sunday. Amazon

Well I am sorry to be delayed in my blog updates.  However, I have been out till 20:00 and then sleep around 23:00 sometimes 0:30 and then wake up again at 4:30/5.

24th October

We woke up at 4:30.  Sandy woke up to the alarm I set and then woke me up.  We finished our last minute packing.  Stacy made us breakfast.  I got a fruit bowl with pistachios and tea.  Yum.  Juan was there on time at 5:30 to take us to the airport.  However, he took us to the beach to give us the preview before we return next weekend!  

The airport is so picky.  They have two areas to enter for domestic flights.   However, they are not marked, so we were waiting in one line only to be requested to go to the next one.  Then folks did not have their itineraries out so they were not allowed to enter.  Thankfully, we are prepared and were let in.    Once we were in, it took an hour to get our tickets.  We were rushed to security.  My bags were both small enough to carry on.  Wohooo!!!!  We went to our gate and waited for a little bit.  We thankfully departed on time.  There was a brief detour in Cusco.  Interesting, it only took an hour to Cusco.  When we were researching, it told us 2 hours.  We waited 15 minutes and in 30 minutes we were in the Amazon (again our research claimed it would be an hour- I roll my eyes at the accuracy of online searching-the joys of backpacking).  

When we landed our guide was there!  His name  is John.  There were two other groups he was picking up.  One from England and 1 from France.    John's dad loved John Wayne movies and hence named his son after him.    John asked if I knew Spanish and Sandy said a little, and he said he knows a little English and we laughed because I said I know a little Spanish (in Spanish). However, he is very good at speaking in English.  On the bus I heard a guide speak in French.  I thought I was really going crazy, but then John confirmed it.  We ended up calling the French the "oui oui!"  When we got to the office, they asked about food allergies- I was accomodated in every regard.  They used coconut milk instead of any other milk.  I was always asked if I was ok.  It was great.  Our hut was so lovely.  It had mosquito nets though I did not feel the necessity of one.  We only had elecricity for a few hours in the morning and then again in the evening.  Each guide was assigned a group and the group was requested to sit together during meals.

En route (the drive over) to the management office, we saw a bridge that cnnects the Amazon area to Brazil and Cusco.  After the management office, we took a boat ride down the Amazon to our huts.  We arrived at 12:00.  Lunch was at 13:00.  We wanted to buy our train tickets to Machu Picchu so we ran a little late.  We are going to leave the morning of the 27th and return the afternon of the 28th.  Our group was understanding of us being late.  

We got lemonade!  It was different because the lemon was just squeezed- completely fresh.

At 15:15 we met again to take a walk in the forest.  John is very funny and knowledgeable of the plants, animals, etc in the forest.    I found this very interesting.  There is a type of flower that closes in on a bug when it lands on their petals which then kills the bug.  Then he showed us a tree that  survives because fire ants live in it.  We also saw a tree that smells of garlic and has healing remedies to it.  John said that scientists are trying to replicate this in a green house; John said htat this is not possible because in the forest, many leaves fall on the tree or other plants grow around it, etc... this causes a symbiosis- a chemical reaction that creates the scents or natural medicines.  These remedies are what indigenous peple used for healing.  However this is not eaily replicable in the current scientific world.  These are a few of the many things that we learned.  These few things stood out for me.    We got about a 1-2 hour break after the jungle tour.  At 18:15 we all departed on the boats.  People were tilting the boats because they all came in at once.  Some even fell.  That evening we saw the white cave man and the dragn alligator.  Since they are noctornal we had to be extremely quiet.  After the boat ride, we came in for dinner.  I learned that our group (John, Joel, Martha all play music together and generally travel 1-2 months traveling.  John (the father) and I got along.  He used to play the cello.  There was so much to see and learn, but those things were stuck out.    After the boat ride, John showed  us tarancholas!!! So cool.   Dinner time- since I could not have the mango ice cream, I received just the fruit.

John planned out who we would be with tomorrow.  Good bye John.  He was an awesome guide.

25th October

This AM, we met up with Juan.  Juan took us to the clays.  It is amazing, because here you can find, parrots, parakeets, ad Makots.  They come to eat the clay because when they eat, they eat unriponed fruit.  To help manage the acidity, they eat clay.  Now in order for them to eat the clay, the clay must be god and it must be a safe place.  So one bird is pushed into the area and if it is not harmed, then the area is safe.  There are always a few keeping watch at the top of trees.  Juan also showed us a leaf that when mixed with water, it becomes a natural diye.  This one was red, he put some on my cheek and it stayed all evening.  We returned to a small break.  We had tea, coca tea!  at 7:30 was breakfast.  And, then we departed.  The  boat ride back reminded me of my boat adventures with Master Stout.  I fell asleep.    We toured the markert and went to the airport.  The airport was small, 2 lines 1 security line.  We were it that morning, so we just slid though!  I got passion fruit this morning :D D

23rd Oct 2015, Friday

Woke up at 3:45 and freshened up for flight.  I fell aseep on this flight only to wake up to breakfast.  Sandy gave me her fruit bowl, because yet again fruit was what I got!  The fruit bowls had mango!!!!!!!!! YUM :D  However one of the fruit dishes was warmed up!?!?!?!  Obviously, I did not eat that.  We landed on time and we looked for our taxi driver.  It took almost 30 min to find him.  We finally did!  He told us to keep our valuable with us and when we walk to always have the bags in front.  He was ambushed once in his truck once.  Anyways, he took us to Stacy's Place.  Such a lovely area.  Our taxi driver gave us his number as he will take us to and from the airport.  We settled in, got our maps and took a radio (private) taxi to the city.  Today it was all about figuring out instinct and maps.  We saw some museums but primaly saw the churches.

We went to the Cathedral and and the palace first.  We continued walking and saw the Convento Santo Domingo.  However, there was a mansion I wanted to see (we never found it) but we did find a place to eat lunch!  They didn't serve Yuka only french fries, which had an interesting taste.  We ended up paying more  because they didn't put the lunch menu up till after we had begun eating.  

I learned that the balconies are traditional and well to do women would sit there and watch everyone and still remain hidden and behind the bars.

We then went to the San Francisco Church and saw the Catacumbas.  Wow, 20,000 bodies buried there and I saw all the bones.  I also saw the library which was created in 1700.  They had one book that weighed 25 kgs!!!!!!  Huge.  No pictures were allowed.

We stopped by at a little market before we found San Agustin Church.  Then we went o he Merced Church, and we ended with the Nazarenas Church.  Here there were so many people and lines upon lines of people who were there to see the Museo Senor de los Milagros (miracle saint).  It was amazing the amount of people and decorations.

Now these maps have no direction to them.  What I would think was North was not.  There was a moment where I thought we had to go south and then east to reach our Musuem.  Nope, north and then east!!!! aaarrrgggg.  At least we saw everything and got there.  In the process we also found Plaza San Martin.  We ended with the Mused De Arte de San Marcos.  

We proceeded back to Stacy's home.  It was earlier than indicated.  We caught up over the days events, what we have all been up to, and had tea too.

We decided on seafood for dinner and they took care of me in terms of allergies.  Both Stacy and Sandy made sure I was safe!!!

Dessert was Chirimoya.  It was delicious.

So two themes this trip:  1.  Us trying to make reservations really does not work.  Just too many issues with the agencies or our credit cards give us a problem.

2.  Sandy showed me this guy at the airport and said he is cute.  No he was not, but now we are looking for cute guys.  ahahahah.

Tomorrow is the Amazon!!!!!!

lunch

cathedral

cake

lots of people

dinner

dessert!!! yum :)

YES THE DAY IS HERE!

So, off I go to Peru.  It seems like credit card issues is the theme of this trip.  Nearly, with every purchase we have been charged too much or too little or our banks put the card on hold.  Anyways, last night, I packed.  I stayed up till 3 AM!  Then I spent the morning updating my blog.  I’m taking stuff for my business partner, Dante’s family to Peru.  So his family will have a taxi waiting for us to take us everywhere!  I had Dante translate

“I am allergic and will die if this has milk, yogurt, cream, butter, peanuts or peanut oil.  Does this have it?  What can I eat?”

Okay I will be leaving soon!

                                                      Downsizing!

So Sandy and I waited in line for our tickets for an hour until a guy moved us to the front of another line.  Security was quick.  Here we were thinking we would be late-nope... our flight was delayed.  We didn't board till 17:00 and take off was even later.  I did get a bagel sandwich before leaving.

This flight, no one occupied the third seat so I got to put my feet there.  Yea!!!  I rested and watched movies.  Dinner was fruit from the airlines (okay food and for free) and my food (yummy food and super expensive).

Our flight landed in Bogota and then took off again.  We were supposed to hear from our captain as to why, never did.  20 minutes later we had a 2nd landing.  3 custom checks and security checks later, we ould finally rest.  At one of these checkpoints, we were frisked head to toe.  I also had to leave my filer and small first aid clipper.  Sandy had to leave her wter bottle.  Aaarrggg.

Hotel # 1 is Bogota Airport.