Happy New Year!
We had assumed before we started this trip that we would have a couple of hours each night to download pictures off of our cameras, sort them, write our blog, etc., etc. Silly us! There is nothing normal in regard to the hours of our itinerary. The bottom line is that you will get a posting when we have time to do it.
As this is being typed we are winging our way over the Pacific Ocean towards Easter Island. We have completed two exhilarating but exhausting days in Peru. More on that later.
About our plane. We have first class seating from front to back. There are 11 cabin stewards for the 90 of us on this trip. The plane is owned by a British company so all of the crew members are British. Tim’s goal is to ask each of them before the trip is completed their town of origin. The service has been impeccable.
On Tuesday, we flew from Lima to Cusco. There we boarded a bus for an hour and a half ride to a little village where we transferred to a train that took us to the town at the base of Macchu Picchu. The scenery was wonderful. We immediately transferred to another bus that took us up to Macchu Picchu. We spent two hours there. Words cannot begin to describe this site. Even the pictures that you see do not do it justice. We left the next morning at 5:30 to go back to Macchu Picchu to watch the sunrise. When we arrived the entire site was enveloped in fog. We were trying to figure out why we had risen so early to see nothing. At 6:45 the fog began to lift and for the next 15 minutes we saw the most spectacular sights you can imagine. By 7:10 the whole area was once again enveloped in fog. We returned to Cusco yesterday afternoon. The New Year was celebrated with a five course dinner, champagne, and fireworks at midnight.
Altitude was a problem for both of us, particularly Tim. At 10,000 feet a brief walk leaves you panting. Climbing steps as we did at Macchu Picchu is exhausting.
Two items from Cusco that some of you may be interested in. There was a nativity scene in the town plaza. There were the usual human figures. The only animal present was a llama. We have no idea which of the animals that we associate with the nativity the llama replaced. We went inside the cathedral on the same plaza. There was a painting of the last supper that surprised us. All of the disciples had these looks of horror on their faces. We don’t know if this was because of the religious significance of the event or the fact that guinea pig was being served as the main entrée for the meal! Guinea pig is still a delicacy in Peru.
Hope all of you enjoyed your New Year celebrations. We have enjoyed reading your comments. Thanks. Looks like we may need to have multiple parties to accommodate everyone who wants to see the pictures of the pottery mentioned in our last posting.
The pilot just announced that he has permission to circle Easter Island a couple of times so we should have our cameras ready. Easter Island has the longest airstrip in the Pacific – NASA prepared it for a shuttle landing in the Pacific should it ever be needed. Tim and Lynda
We had assumed before we started this trip that we would have a couple of hours each night to download pictures off of our cameras, sort them, write our blog, etc., etc. Silly us! There is nothing normal in regard to the hours of our itinerary. The bottom line is that you will get a posting when we have time to do it.
As this is being typed we are winging our way over the Pacific Ocean towards Easter Island. We have completed two exhilarating but exhausting days in Peru. More on that later.
About our plane. We have first class seating from front to back. There are 11 cabin stewards for the 90 of us on this trip. The plane is owned by a British company so all of the crew members are British. Tim’s goal is to ask each of them before the trip is completed their town of origin. The service has been impeccable.
On Tuesday, we flew from Lima to Cusco. There we boarded a bus for an hour and a half ride to a little village where we transferred to a train that took us to the town at the base of Macchu Picchu. The scenery was wonderful. We immediately transferred to another bus that took us up to Macchu Picchu. We spent two hours there. Words cannot begin to describe this site. Even the pictures that you see do not do it justice. We left the next morning at 5:30 to go back to Macchu Picchu to watch the sunrise. When we arrived the entire site was enveloped in fog. We were trying to figure out why we had risen so early to see nothing. At 6:45 the fog began to lift and for the next 15 minutes we saw the most spectacular sights you can imagine. By 7:10 the whole area was once again enveloped in fog. We returned to Cusco yesterday afternoon. The New Year was celebrated with a five course dinner, champagne, and fireworks at midnight.
Altitude was a problem for both of us, particularly Tim. At 10,000 feet a brief walk leaves you panting. Climbing steps as we did at Macchu Picchu is exhausting.
Two items from Cusco that some of you may be interested in. There was a nativity scene in the town plaza. There were the usual human figures. The only animal present was a llama. We have no idea which of the animals that we associate with the nativity the llama replaced. We went inside the cathedral on the same plaza. There was a painting of the last supper that surprised us. All of the disciples had these looks of horror on their faces. We don’t know if this was because of the religious significance of the event or the fact that guinea pig was being served as the main entrée for the meal! Guinea pig is still a delicacy in Peru.
Hope all of you enjoyed your New Year celebrations. We have enjoyed reading your comments. Thanks. Looks like we may need to have multiple parties to accommodate everyone who wants to see the pictures of the pottery mentioned in our last posting.
The pilot just announced that he has permission to circle Easter Island a couple of times so we should have our cameras ready. Easter Island has the longest airstrip in the Pacific – NASA prepared it for a shuttle landing in the Pacific should it ever be needed. Tim and Lynda
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6 comments:
Happy New Year's!! Aunt Helen is reading your blog but cannot register as a blogger.
George wants to see more pictures of Macchu Picchu but can wait. OK was it windy or just the big fanny pack on your hip?!! As your cousin I just have to ask you that :)
Cannot wait to see Easter Island and oh by the way I am so impressed that you’re up at 4 am etc Lynda!
Beautiful plane and nice set up! So how are the other people on your tour?????
xxoo Bev
Happy New Year to you both. The whole trip sounds absolutely awesome so far. Too bad you don't get to spend more time at each place. I can't wait to see more pictures. The plane looks so luxurious....what a way to travel!! I'll be looking forward to hearing more......
Debra
Sounds like your having a great time! What a beautiful picture that is you have posted. Glad your having fun.
We went to your house on New Year's and spent the night. It was just us and Jil, Rob & Jocey (Madi was at a friends house). We had fun. However, when we got to your house Cole was confused as to why it was so dark and why Grandma and Grandpa weren't waiting at the garage door for him to say hello. When we told him you weren't home he said, "Oh yeah, I forgot they're on a field trip." It was very cute.
We miss you and can't wait to read more about your travels. Love you both.
Heather
Wow, it sounds like you're having the experience of your lifetime. Enjoy every moment of it (I know you are.) I look forward to hearing/seeing more from you.
I'm enjoying reading your updates ... but there are just not enough of them! Remember, this is "an expedition, not a vacation" ... do you think Magellan, Leif Ericson, Columbus, or De Soto, went to bed at night without updating their blogs (I mean journals)?
Glad to hear you are finding the trip worthwhile.
Steve
..... forgot the important update (in case you did not already know).... MSU got hammered by Univ. of Georgia .... 12 to 24 ... sorry about that.
Go Colts!!!
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