Cusco a gogo

It was very pretty flying along from Lima to Cusco. The mountains would stick out of the clouds occasionally. We could see lakes and snow-capped mountains along the flight. Landing in Cusco is another story. It is a very tricky landing involving numerous turns and very close proximity to large mountains. The city of 500,000 people stretched out in front of us.  We had to go down steps to get off of the plane and then up steps  to get into the terminal. There was a big basket of coca leaves just as you entered the baggage claim area. The sign said take 3 only please. I took a few more stuff them in my mouth and started chewing.  It was pretty crazy with people trying to sign you up for tours and taxi rides and such.  We had to go outside to find our driver.  A man told Leslie that we would have someone waiting for us outside, we're not sure if you knew who we were or just knew that's where drivers had to stage. There was nothing better than seeing the guy with Fritz on his clipboard.

Look a mountain 

Misty in the valley

Snow capped 

Getting close

That is our runway 

Spread out

One of the three allotted leaves 

Yes he is there for us!

Landed in Lima

 I had heard horror stories on the internet about the infamous airport. It is pretty crazy I will have to admit. We got off the plane, then immigration was a free-for-all to get to the domestic flights we had to walk outside of the airport and then back in a different door.  The setup of the gares are such that everyone lines up for their flight all the way across the hallway so nobody else can pass. Our plane is slightly delayed. So we're all standing here waiting for the gate. A gate attendant came by with a box that had the bottom of it cut open. If she cannot slip the box over top of your luggage you have to check it. I passed the test just barely with an eye roll. Leslie had to take a little bit of stuff out. Several (12 so far)folk have had to check in their bag. One bag just broke the box.

 Bogota to Lima

From 8339 ft to over 12,000 feet in Cusco

Rugged mountains as far as the eye can see 

Welcome to the chaos that is Lima international 

More chaos

The infamous box

What time is it?

Our wake up time was 2:30. Mumble Mumble Mumble Mumble Mumble Mumble Mumble mumble. Just drifted off there. Well we checked out there was a Rockin party going on still at one of the bars at 2:50 a.m. We got to the airport breezed through customs, sat in the lounge, which was pretty empty. Now we're at our gate and we should be in the air at 5:30.

Empty

Early

A walk around the neighborhood before an early night.

We were faced with a dilemma for tomorrow's travel. We could maintain our altitude and fly directly to Cusco and then go down to the sacred Valley.  Or we could try to stop off and Lima for a night possibly losing our altitude acclimation and then head to Cusco. We opted for the former which gave us another dilemma. Leave at a reasonable time but then get to the sacred valley at night and miss out on that experience.  Or leave it an unreasonable hour, get to Cusco by noon and still enjoy some time down in the sacred Valley. I guess you know which one we chose. We have set our alarm for 2:30 a.m.! But before that happens here some pictures from the neighborhood and a special shout-out to Lizeth the concierge at the club level. Her easy smile and assistance made our days much easier.

Nice to get some walkies in before we have to go to bed early

Lizeth our personal assisstant

The flowers are everywhere

The old and the new

Sidewalk bean stall

More flowers

Nice paint

Crocheted trees 

Who's your papa?

Sculpture 

More sculpture 

We walked from the nice business area and hotel district into an area that was keeping it real. 

Monserrate Mountain

An additional exercise in acclimation to the altitude was a trip up another 2,000 feet to Monserrate Mountain. As an added benefit there was a fun cable car ride, a beautiful church, flowers,  birds and a lovely lunch. In addition perhaps the best view of Bogota is available here the entire city was spread out in front of us. At 10,500 feet it is a real test of our acclimating. It was a most beautiful location and a very enjoyable afternoon.

Waiting in line they have a cross I guess to pray that the line goes faster

Ready to head on up

One goes up one goes down

It's spelled differently from the island

We liked these buildings a lot

View from the ride up

Bogo-ta buy one city get one city for free it's that big

A nice place for lunch

They have a Christ statue on their Hill just like Rio and Cali 

The city off in the other direction

They were having mass in this church has we came up to it

On and on and on

The church doors

Here's all the people

Christ statue in the Mist

Behind the city

The church from the side

A market with surprisingly similar items in every stall

Very cool window panes from inside where we had our lunch

The view from one of those window panes

Review was so bright we had to wear shades

The tallest building in Bogota

On the ride back down. We survived Hallelujah

Mr. Policeman keeping an eye on Miss Leslie