First Stop - Peru - August 22-26

In deciding to spend only 5 days in Peru, I had no idea how difficult it would be to travel from Lima to Machu Picchu - my main objective in traveling to Peru. It will take the entire 5 days just to get there and back, spending only one evening at Machu Picchu "the best known and most inspiring archeological site on the continent." The last picture that I included in this journal is of the site. It looks like a photographers dream! The site was created by the Incas about the same time that Columbus was discovering America. It remained a mystery (even to the invading Spaniards) until 1911 when Hiram Bingham, an archeologist, discovered it. Besides the beauty, I think one of the attractions is the mystery. Why was it built? What was it's purpose? What about the 100s of skeletons found below the walls? There is only speculation at this point. It will be worth the trip, which starts in Lima, the capital of Peru. I arrive in Lima on Monday evening at 10:30 pm. After a quick nights sleep, it's off to the airport for a spectacular 6 am flight to Cuzco, the closest town next to Machu Picchu and once the formost city of the Incan empire. Cuzco is considered the "archeological capital of the Americas as well as the continent's oldest continuously inhabited city." This part of the journey invites altitude sickness; going from Lima (about 500 feet above sea level) over Huccaran (22,400 feet) landing in Cuzco (11,000 feet). The natives are prepared for sick tourists with a special tea that supposedly cures, or at least makes you forget the problem. A night in Cuzco and then a train ride (vistadome) on another spectacular journey to Machu Picchu. Hotels are very cheap in Peru, but I did spend a little extra to stay in Hutachay Tower, one of the few hotels actually at Machu Picchu. This gives me the opportunity to explore the site after the 1,000 other tourists leave. The trip back is the reverse of my description above, except that I have a day to explore Lima. Sue and Walt recommend the Gold Museum and the Main Plaza so it is a "must see." Friday night at 10pm I leave for the airport for a Sat 12:15 am flight out. Those of you who have used frequent flyer miles, know the adventure involved and why you need a lot of time to travel. To fly from Lima Peru to my next destination Cairo Egypt it will take 2 days and stops in the following places; Mexico City, Atlanta, Boston, Paris, Prague, arriving in Cairo on Monday morning at 2:10 am. The good news is that I get to spend 12 hours in Paris. Hopefully I can get to the Louvre Museum and check out the Mona Lisa's new home within the museum. Next week's entry: Cairo and the boat trip down the Nile. Stay tuned! Happy Trails - Marion***** A parting interesting fact about Peru: "Coca is cultivated on 46,700 hectacres - enough for 150,000 KG of cocaine (although much of it is actually used for legal chewing and tea making)."