PERU: Machu Picchu to Cusco

Arriving at the ruins before sunrise was an experience and as we stood there in amazement just taking in the awe of the place our gaze happened to look up to the Sun Gate.  The Gate has special significance during the winter Solstice and we were still about a month away from the alignment of the Sun Gate and the rising sun.  But what we did see that excited us was seeing our fellow travellers coming down the Inca Traill eager to be the first to make it to Machu Picchu, so we went to meet them as they approached the first of the ruins.  They did it and we were just so excited for them.  Congratulations folks – what a feat and memorable, painful experience !!

By early afternoon everyone was pretty buggered and ready to head back down to the village and back on to the train for a game of cards and a few drinks to reward oneself after a big day -with Cusquenas of course.

You will notice in the photo that Tony is weating a new hat he bought in Machu Picchu Village. It carries the official Peru Logo and Flag. He had so many people start talking to him in Spanish that he thought he might as well play the part.

Cusco Main Plaza

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Traffic on Avenue El Sol

That Peru Rail train actually ran out of beers on that particular trip !!  Any wonder.  After arriving back in Ollantaytambo we headed straight for the bus and back to Cusco, over the Andes and with popping ears along the way.   There was still so much to do and see in Cusco, but I don’t think anything could match the Quad bike rides so we settled for the Inca Museum, down Avenue El Sol dodging its heavy traffic, and  just walking through laneways which still had relics of Inca walls and cobblestones.  We also by chance managed to sit in on a game of womens basketball.  Truth be told, we just needed somewhere to eat our delicious pastries we had just bought on the Avenue !!.  Then it was on to the Craft Markets, then to the Mercado Central de San Pedro – which sells not only Peruvian arts and crafts, but an assortment of fresh produce, including offal (more like AWFUL !), whole skinned and donkeys heads (teeth in situ), and frogs – you can choose either skinned or live.  

Mercado Central de San Pedro, Cusco 

On our first day at the market, Alim bought a couple of skinned frogs and found his way to the juice bars where they delightfully blended up the frogs with his choice of fruit to juice up. 

Skinned and Live Frogs at the Cusco Markets

Dare I say it, Tony sampled the Frog Juice, but by this stage he’d already consumed Guinea Pig and Alpaca, so nothing surprises me any more, but trying to be brave I thought I would give it a go - just tasted like orange juice, but needed a dash of ginger I thought.  So our next trip to the markets we had just that, but without the Frogs. 

Our last night in Cusco was celebrated at a café called the Los Perros Couch Bar which seemed to be geared up for the tourist market.  The food was tasty too, but it wasn’t until we were leaving that I really took notice of how touristy it was.  A Notice board took my eye and pinned with News clippings from all over the world – even Australian News stories.  There it was – the Headline – “Gallen Lack lustre as Inglis Shines”.  YES !!  Apparently Greg Inglis (my league hero) scored a last minute try to win the Souths a game.  That’s what I call great rugby league news – even if it was about 1 week old – and in Peru of all places. 



Paintings for Sale at Los Perros Couch Bar
 (Glen & Stehpanie's new art)



Tomorrow we would be catching the TACA 100 from Lima to Puerto Maldonado, in the upper reaches of the Amazon – and back to sea level, heat and humidity – sounds just like home!!  Typical of Peruvian time the 35 minute flight would be delayed for 1 hour. 

We’re wondering what the Amazon would be like, what’s in store for us.  Was going through the pain of getting the Yellow Fever injection worth it?

LOL ….you will have to wait for the next instalment to find out!!

Tony and Liz

Overlooking Amazonia from TACA 100
Cusco to Puerto Maladonado