Stop 2: Cusco, Peru

Kona was just the thing we needed before going into full travel mode.  We met with our good friends Rena and Egon to catch up on island story and catch them up on the mainland.  Noa made a lot of new friends with the local life guards and surf instructors as well as the regulars each day at the surfbreak.  In true aloha spirit they took him in as one of their own.  It was fun watching him catch wave after wave.

On Monday afternoon we sadly took our last swim and set off for the airport.    After a straight 9 hour trip to Newark New Jersey, and then another 6 hour flight (probably 4 movies each!), we made it to Lima, Peru.  A quick overnight and then a short little flight on to Cusco, the Sacred Valley, for exploring some ancient ruins and archeology sites. At a jump from sea level to 13,000 feet altitude, we were offered coca tea when we checked in to our Hotel Terra Andina to soothe any predicted headaches.  Needless to say, the tea gives you quite an energetic perspective, and with Susie being a lightweight, there were a few cartwheels amongst the ruins and llamas much to the chagrin of the guides. Then to cap Cusco off, we encountered a fabulous thunderstorm high in the Andes.  Our guide was an expert historian and had many informantional lesson on the rise and fall of the Inca empire.  But secretly we were most happy when we saw llamas, Alpacas, wild pigs, donkeys and other assorted animals nosing about in all of the ruins.

We had dinner at a Pizzeria in the town square, and as usual the translation on the menu is always good for a few surprises.  The most interesting was "Roast Guinea Pig Hot from Oven."  At about $25 it was the most expensive thing on the menu compared to the $5 to $10 pizza, skewers, and other fare.  Later we learned that in Peru it is considered a delicacy - especially if the skin has been "crisped."   OK so none of that but we did branch out and try a few bites of our friend the Alpaca- probably one that we saw happily grazing  at the ruins earlier in the day.   We are having some trouble posting photos hopefully soon.

Tonight is an early night since we are up at 4:00 AM tomorrow to catch a taxi to catch a train to catch a bus up to Machu Pichu and some serious site seeing!

One sidenote-  In my efforts to wow the local Hawaiin Brudda's with my standup surfing skills I had a pretty fair wipeout last Tuesday in which I was at first sure that I broke my ankle.  Although I am now fairly certain that nothing was broken, it has remained the size of softball all week (no worries- it did not slow down any further efforts at becoming a standup master).  Flying for 15 hours and then walking around at 12,000 feet has not helped make it better.  In fact, Susie and Noa are now actually giving sypathy and applying ice in evenings for fear that I may slow down their travel itenerary.
Cheers,  Les

PPS-  Coke Cola has truly inundated the planet.