MACHU PICCHU
We got up before the crack of dawn (3:45 a.m. to be exact) and took the bus up to Machu Picchu and were able to watch the sunrise together over Machu Picchu! It was gorgeous. The big mountain in the background is called Waynapicchu, which we climbed.
We got tickets to climb up Waynapicchu (the big mountain you see with the pics of Machu Picchu) and climbed the incredibly steep switchbacks up to the top. They only allow 400 to climb it a day, and we got there first thing and we were still numbers 217 and 218. It was so steep that in some places I had to sit down on the stairs and scoot down stait by stair. Crazy!
The view from the top of WaynapicchuLAKE TITICACA (Lago Titikaka)
The Floating Islands of Uros on Lake Titicaca
The floating island we went to, Santa Maria. The islands are actually made of reeds and just piled on top of each other. They are anchored to the bottom of the lake so they don't float away, and they just pile new reeds on top to keep it from disintegrating. Super touristy, but very interesting.
The next stop on our Lake Titicaca island tours was an island called Isla Amantani where we stayed overnight with a host family (the mother, Gregoria, is pictured behind me). She cooked us meals and even dressed us up in traditional clothing from the island (pictured below) and took us to a dancing party with the other tourists and host families. It was by far my favorite thing we did. 
Doesn't Jay look like Pacha from "The Emporer's New Groove?"
Jay and Gregoria, our Amantani island mom.
On top of the highest point on Isla Amantani-- we hiked up to watch the sunset.
Jay pondering outside our room at Gregoria's house
The outhouse (the toilet is inside...not on top, like it looks I am climbing to). There was no running water, however.SILLUSTANI
While in Puno, we took a side trip to some ruins called Sillustani. They were funerary towers from a pre-Incan civilization that families were buried in. Very cool.
The ruins of Sacsaywaman- they were constructed in such a way that they didn't need mortar between the stones, and they were so close together you couldn't even fit a breadknife between the stones.
A walkway in Sacsaywaman
The famous 12-sided stone in Cusco
The cathedral at the Plaza de Armas in Cusco. Inside was a sweet painting of the Last Supper where instead of the pascsal lamb on the table, there is a dead chinchilla.
The Plaza de Armas at night. All the little lights in the background are the houses on the hill.LIMA
Outside the Plaza de Armas in Lima our first day in Peru
The Lima Temple
We went to a bullfighting museum while in Lima, apparently in the dangerous area of town. The manager was really nice-- here he is with Jay posing inside the actual bullring.PEOPLE
Traditionally dressed women in San Blas, Cusco
My esthetician. Sort-of. I went and got a facial while we were in Cusco. It was...interesting, and made for a good story to tell my esthetics students. FOOD
We ate clay outside of Puno at a family's house. It was not as bad as you might think. You eat it on potatoes.
Our obscenely expensive lunch outside of Machu Picchu. We didn't bring a lunch inside (they said you couldn't have food, and we studiously obeyed) and we were STARVING by the time we left 8 hours later having not eaten anything all day. Jay had to use his headlamp to make sure it was edible. Any excuse to use that thing.
Salchipapas (cut up sausage) and of course, french fries. They come with everything.
Breakfast every single morning in every single hotel we stayed at-- rolls, cheese, and ham. The only thing that changed was the kind of rolls.
Eating alpaca at a restaurant in CuscoANIMALS
A very unfriendly llama we encountered at a local house near Puno. He didn't spit on me, but I think he was close...
A Peruvian delicacy-- guinea pig, known as "cuy." This one was at a local family's house and was SUPER pregnant. We saved our cuy dinner for our last night there, and when it came, we were in the nice area of Lima and there weren't any cuy restaurants, so we missed out. It's probably just as well-- it would have brought back traumatic memories of my 3 pet guinea pigs. Ha.
I'm pretty sure there are more stray dogs in Peru than there are people...
3 comments:
Awesome pictures! It looks like you guys had a blast. I'm so jealous! We'll see you soon.
Hi Jill! What a fun trip. I love the pictures. You make me want to travel more. So you cool you hiked Waynapicchu. I am jealous. I recently found out that I know your cousin Andrew. He and his wife Melanie are in my ward. They are awesome and so fun to be around. I think you and Jay should come and visit them. Any chance you might want to take a trip to Boston in the next year or so? I'd love to see you! :)
Wow Jill and Jay! What an exciting trip! Looks like so much fun! I bet you're so glad you climbed that big mountain, why go to Peru if you don't do that! I'm impressed! We miss you (and need you) n the ward. I'm in the Primary presidency now and Lianna Ostler is the new primary chorister. La La says hi!
Post a Comment