Kevin, Jaque and Jen take over Peru

narrow streets & cobblestones

Well let me tell you , coming off another night of only 4 hours of sleep we are pumped to be in Cusco. We landed bright and early this morning from Lima. Last night before hitting the hay we walked over to airport and got ourselves a little MickeyD´s. But lemme tell you, there´s no fast food like home. But the food court is apparently the place where all the young houligan backpackers spend the night in the airport in order to catch their connections in the mrning. Apparently we missed the memo.

So this morning, much to his dismay Dad had to say goodbe to his friend Manuel. Manuel was a porter at the hotel in Lima and he told us all about how to adjust to the altitude, how to check in at the morning. The man could write his own advice column. But anywho we made our way to the airport to check in amongst the sound of a rooster. Yes, dear reader, you read correctly: A rooster. Dad was obsessed with the finding out who had the cock in a box. We went back to the hotel and had our free breakfast amongst the soothing sound of Mr. Eric Clapton. Yes, even here we cannot evade Eric. We boarded our plane and took off for Cusco.

After the best TV show of my life on the plane (practical jokes like candid camera) we burst through the gargantuan mountains of the Andes to take our first look at Cusco. They were the biggest mountains we´ve ever seen. The plane executed a maneuver like something out of Top Gun and we were down. Cusco is located in a bowl like valley so it was a trip to dive in. Dad and I had been very concerned with the altitude since Cusco sits at about 11, 000 feet. But as we exited the plane we didnt start hurling so we were happy. We were met at the airport and taken to our hotel where we were greeted with delicious coca tea. It´s said to help with the altitude so we were happy to have enjoyed it. On our way to the hotel we saw two cars ahead of us get into an accident. Our driver Carlos told us that no one here has insurance and when you get into an accident "the guys have a conversation". There are no stop signs, barely lanes and when you are riding in a car you can reach out with your hand and touch the car next to you. According to dad when you flip off the driver next to you, you´d be picking his nose at the same time.

just your run of the mill...

Our room is sparse. And tonight we fear we will die of frostbite. Our door, a quaint ancient looking thing barely closes and looks like a strong wind could bust it open. The floor creaks with every (no exageration) step we take. But that is the reason this place is so amazing. Plus McGuyver worked on the door a bit.

built in 1781

We went to the main plaza for lunch. A festival was going on with diferent groups performing. It is to begin the celebration for Inti Raymi. The sun festival we came for. On our way we met a boy who we gave a ring pop(candy) to. After, he walked with us for a while and I introduced us in Spanish. When I told him my dad was named Jeff he said "Jacque? That is a name of an actor here" (in spanish of course) so now apparently dad is an actor. When we gave him his candy he asked if he could have one for his brother. So we gave him one, to which he replied "I have 2 brothers" and dad told him "We´ll see you mañana." So now we both want to find a way to smuggle Kevin home with us.

Kevin

We spent the rest of the day recovering and taking in the amazing sights of the city. It really is a beautiful place. It´s like an enirely different world here and everywhere you look there is color. We ate dinner at a "gringo2 restaurant called Jack´s. we had steak sandwiches with fries and sodas and salad. For US$14. For both of us. tip included suckas. It was legit. We wandered around a bit more, shopped a bit and are now getting ready to bed down for the night. We can wait to see what this week brings.

La compania de Jesus in the Main Plaza of Cusco

Adios!