June 15th - Pisac

Today we flew back to Lima and then directly to Cusco where we were picked up for a very scenic ride to the village of Pisac. We saw a llama and two alpacas from the taxi as well as some amazing views!

The Casa del Conde, where we are staying is a 3K hike from the town.  The driver of the mototaxi made us get out so he could make it up the hill with his small engine.  There are no cars, thus no honking horns - YEAH!  There is a small spchurch at the start of our trail where they will have Sunday Mass tomorrow at 11am said in Quechuan.  

We walked around the market and saw many beautiful woven tapestries, etc.

We met up with Heidi, Jorge and Gio at their Inn in town and had Pisco sours.  

We should sleep good tonight! 

June 14th - Ayacucho

There were no gastronomical surprises today!   I was sick in my stomach (probably from the lettuce I ate last night)...it couldn't be the cuy?   We explored the Santa Ana barrio handicraft quarter...sculpture, weaving, pottery - Oh my!

Tomorrow we catch an early flight for Pisac, one of the villages in the Sacred Valley.  It is hard to say "adios" to Ayacucho and our thoughtful and warm-welcoming hosts, Carlos and Alicia.  Alicia made me special tea and homemade chicken soup today to help me recover from my stomach troubles.  Apparently she bought it live, had the head chopped off and feathered it herself.  It doesn't get any fresher than that!

Look closely and you will see Joyce in a motor taxi..., one of our means of transport in Peru!

June 13th - Ayacucho

Today, Carlos and Alicia, the hotel owners, drove Piia, Joyce and me to the Wari ruins.  Piia is from Finland and staying at La Crillonesa, too. Then we drove to the sight of the final battle between South America and Spain,  Pampas de la Quinua.  Can find "women" in Quechuan?

Afterwards we drove to the town of Quinua known for its pottery.  Look for the ceramic churches on the roofs - for good luck!

In Quinua, I tasted tuna (the cactus fruit) for the first time.

Our next gastronomical adventure occurred back in Ayacucho where we ate KFC (and I am not talking Kentucky Fried Chicken)....no, it's Kentucky Fried Cuy (guinea pig) - a specialty in the highlands.  

OK, so I ate it and it tasted just like chicken.  

We topped off the day with a drive up to a lookout point - Mirador...muy bonito!

June 12th - Ayacucho

We arrived in Ayacucho early this morning and were picked up by Alicia from Hotel Crillonesa. It is muy bonito.  We are on the fourth floor with a fantastical view.

We went to the market and got some warm hats that were Hecho en Ayacucho.

We also had our first try of mate de coca and chewed on some leaves.  It seemed to help.

We also tried huevo de codornis, mazamorra llipta and capuli?  Not sure about spelling...

Most of all, the people in Ayacucho have been most kind and very friendly.  

Except I scared a one year old boy because he had only seen one other person with blonde hair....... (At least that is what his mama said to me.)

What Happens in Lima...stays in Lima! - excerpt written by Joyce

Good Morning, Gentle Readers,

We are at the airport waiting to board our 5:30am flight to Ayacucho.  What a night.  We retired early to our diminutive fourth floor room overlooking the breakfast courtyard, and had been in bed just a short time when the resident pair of peacocks of Hotel Espana, who roost on the glass roof that covers part of the courtyard just below our window, serenaded us with a big ruckus, screeching and honking and making vocalizations that sounded like long, loud farts.  This went on and on.  Cathi was the first to leap out of bed, striding out the door in her nightie onto the landing and ordered the peacocks to SHSHSH!!  Because they took no heed, she flung the contents of her filtered water bottle onto the male peacock causing him to jump off the rooftop and cling to the morning glory on the side of the structure.  The screeching, honking and "farting" continued.  So, I went out and tossed my water onto the female peacock.  The racket continued.  We had no choice but to pull out Cathi's full bottle of Creme de Pisco from the bodega in Ica.  We decided to have a stiff nightcap to help us block out the peacocks and get some sleep.

Wunnerful schtuff!!  Like Bailey's with undertones of fig.  We killed the bottle.

Like I said, WHAT HAPPENS IN PERU STAYS IN PERU!

June 11th - Lima

This morning we walked to the Plaza de Armas and watched the changing of the guard.  The band played a "Bolero" drum cadence and Carmina Burana among other pieces.  Then we toured the Cathedral and were very amazed by the ornated woodcarving!  We ate a delicious meal of lamb curry and couscous in a French restaurant run and served by nuns.  

Then we went to a central market in Chinatown and found a gold mine of needed toothpaste, gum and pacai which was new to both of us.  Returning via a pedestrian street, Cathi was held at gunpoint by a street performer.  (We had hoped to leave that behind in Texas!)  We tried the pacai which was a pod with "cotton candy" and black seeds inside.  We peeled back the pod to reveal yummy sweetness!

June 10th - Ballestas Islands and Nazca Lines

We were picked up at 4:30am and driven to Paracas.  There we viewed birds, etc. on the Ballestas Islands via speedboat.  We saw Humboldt penguins, sea lions and Peruvian boobies among others.  

Then we were driven to Nazca to a prop plane and saw the Nazca lines.  Can you find the spider on the left and the condor on the right?  We managed to keep our empanadas and Inca Cola down the whole flight.  Life is good! Yeehaw!

We couldn't end the day without a tour of a Pisco Bodega....and our first, but not last Pisco Sours of the trip.  

June 9th - Lima

We have arrived safely to Lima.  Macaws, tortoises and peacocks joined us for breakfast.  Now we are off to church and sights.  

What a great day!  Started with Mass at Fransiscan Monastery and then a tour of the catacombs.

Afterwards we went to the Museo de Larco...amazing!  Topped it off with Magic Fountains Curcuit at the Parque de Republica!  We have an early start tomorrow...nite!