We were able to sleep in until after 6 this morning! It stormed most of the night, they say but I slept through most of it. I feel so blessed for the timing of it all. We all packed our duffel bags and met for breakfast where we also arranged for two envelopes that we were able to put what we wanted into for the two guides Elvis and Jose. I wrote
7 Yanks, 6 Canucks and 4 Brits thank you very much
on the envelope as the guys have some pretty good schtick about the stereotypes. All in good fun though and I am sure they see a lot of typical responses.
It was a bleak day but at least not raining. Some found it very cold but it was a Bella Bella kind of day and I was sporting my jacket from there so was all good. We waved farewell and CA and I got the front seats again as they were the most windy. I did not mind a bit. Rather than stopping part way and taking a bus we took the boat all the way to Puerto Moldonado as the road had washed out in the storm and was impassable. I sat and watched the greenery go by, took a few more pictures and wrote notes for my blog of the last few days without wifi. When we arrived I was glad we had come that way as their port is very quaint and after climbing up the muddy bank we made it to the bus. It took us through more of the town than we had seen and we were told that all the motorcycles racing around with the driver in a helmet and not the passenger were taxis! Most of them were Hondas but there were a few brands I did not recognize which Jose said were from China. He said the tattoo of my bike on my arm was my Tuk tuk, a very popular form of ride around there. I enjoyed how much he giggled at calling my triumph that.
We stopped at the office, repacked from our loaner duffels to our suitcases, filled out a customer satisfaction survey, said our good byes to Elvis and headed to the airport. Once there our bags were each checked by hand, looking for alcohol or aerosols. I had neither but he did look puzzled at my empty beer bottle wrapped in happy face tissue. Once the bags were checked we were able to purchase some snacks to bring along and I grabbed some local Brazil nuts, plantain chips, a powerade and a can of beer. this was in a plastic bag and I was able to bring it through the security screening no problem, even cracked it on the plane.
I really am enjoying getting the chance to sit beside a different person each time we travel, getting to know them better. Linda from Kent was my seat mate today and I think she is adorable, reminds me of Dame Judy.
Upon landing in Cusco we loaded our bags into one van and jumped in another to be brought to our hotel. Cusco is like night and day to Lima. It is so beautiful and lively and safe. We checked in, dropped our stuff, met in the lobby to send out our laundry and then walked up to the main square for a dinner with a stunning view. I and a few of my mates decided was would have Guinea Pig and others tried Alpaca. I cannot describe what I thought when they set that plate in front of me. It was quite literally a quartered Guinea Pig. I even got one with four teeth!!!!!! I was told not to try to eat the skin as it was tough and there was not much meat on it but I did try it and will not again. After dinner we had some free time before a 7 o’clock meeting to discuss the itinerary for the next few days. I stepped out of the restaurant to spot a shoe store, well cubicle really across the cobblestone alley. It was chock a clock with colourful handmade sneakers, walking boots and knee high boots. I could not resist and got a pair for only $29 US sold to me by the cobbler himself!
Next thing we went to a tattoo shop where I met the artist and made a plan but could not commit to a time as I needed to attend the meeting first. I told him I would return later. Back down we came, oh it is all up or down here on beautiful cobblestone streets.
At the meeting which was split into two groups, those doing the train and those doing the train we learned what our next 5 days look like. To our wonderful surprise, those of us not doing the trail will get to purchase for $50 Cdn and extra day on Machu Picchu. As well and extra train ticket for 30 Sols. I can not believe this has happened but it is because of the train schedule they have made it possible.
I feel sorry for the trail tribe as they have to fit all their gear in a duffel with a very specific weight allowing only 2.5 Kg of clothing and personal items as the porters have to pack it for them. The rest has to go in the packs on their backs. they spent most of the evening weighing bags and removing items.
I went back to book my tattoo for Friday night at 7 and bought a beautiful Peruvian patterned duffel bag as we will need it for tomorrows overnight in the Sacred Valley and then the nights at Agua Calientes aka Machu Picchu town.
The rest of my evening I have been posting blogs from the lobby which were typed as notes on my iPad, hearing good news from my daughters and wondering how my boy is doing.
I feel like such a dork but this is the best trip ever and there is still a week and a half to go!
MB in Cusco
09.18.13
PS I have had to write this and the previous two with the least punctuation including apostrophes as I can not find them on this Spanish computer. It was a trip just finding out Alt Q is the @ symbol to log in to Facebook!
triumphgal 