Our trip through Peru

This is actually from awhile ago but we wanted to share a little about our trip through Peru about a month ago. Our first big flight to the US was from Lima, Peru so we had to get there one way or another. We chose the long and cheaper way of taken buses to get to Cuzco, Peru and then fly from Cuzco to Lima. From Bolivia to Chicago we spent about 50 hours in transit but at least we got to see some more of South America on the way.

While it took a long time to do it this way it was wonderful to see the city Cuzco which is very beautiful. It holds a lot of history as it was once the central city to the Incans then taken over by the Spaniards. There are both Incan and Spanish buildings which makes for an interesting mix. Cuzco also happens to be the nearest city to Machu Picchu, a fully preserved Incan city, so we stopped there for a day.

This was a Spanish built church in the main square. In the background is
"Viva el Peru" written in the hill.

A lady walking her llama down the street in Cuzco.

This was a monastery that also had some Incan worship temples inside. When the Spanish came they built the church around the Incan worship space and left it intact.

A typical street in Cuzco.

Me and my llama friend.

This was at Machu Picchu. These are the tiered fields where the people who used to live at Machu Picchu would grow their crops.

The whole city of Machu Picchu. Also we climbed both of the
peaks that you can see in the background.

Getting to those peaks became rather interesting at some points...

This was on the way up to the larger peak of the two.

Yes, that is a shear drop off a cliff if you should fall. And anyone who knows me knows how clumbsy I can be...especially with stairs. While climbing I realized I have fallen down at least 5 full staircases in my life but I did not fall down any on this day...whew.

Here is Matt on one of the ladders on the way down.

This was at the top of the bigger peak. It was still pretty early in the morning so the clouds hadn't quite burned off yet which made everything seem mysterious. Later on we were able to see all of Machu Picchu from up there.

This is an Incan built door in Machu Picchu. It is so well constructed, the whole city is actually, that is has withstood eathquakes better than modern buildings. And people still can't figure out quite how they did it or how they got all the materials up to such high ground. The city is way high up in a mountain and totally invisible from below. That is why is it so well preserved because the Spanish never found it.

The majestic llama. I was a little afraid that it was going to jump down onto me.