We're not in Kansas Anymore

Cusco, Peru -- a montage of incredible visual pleasures in a city! Spanish tiles roofs, marketstalls in every block, and fantastic native women with dark, wrinkled skin, full skirts, thick alpaca stockings, cardigan sweaters, white top hats and long black braids. Another destination where I almost need to put the camera away and enjoy the sights instead of trying unsuccessfully to capture them. As you may know, Cusco is situated at over 11,000 feet elevation, so arriving from sea level can be quite difficult on people. We advised the kids to drink lots of water and our first evening was spent resting at the hotel. Jane, Chase & Mary have a room with three single beds in a row and they described watching television with a 3-way trip to the john at each commercial break.

First day out was markets and museums. We still have much to learn about the Inca history, but on first glance we remain incredulous at the architectural intelligence which is much intact today. The walls and stones almost don't appear old becuase of their perfect state and cut after 1000 years. Then Jane and I split off for some shopping fun. We were deep in the main covered marketplace, which is a combination Peruvian food court, butcher shop, and clothing extravaganza when an overwhelming smell of bad meat overcame us. We decided to head in another direction, but in our attempt to exit quickly we were caught in a nightmare of chicken feet, pig's heads, flies, ribs, blood, flies and finally, just about to reach the main aisle, a cart filled with whole decapitated pig bodies. Hear the shower sound effects from "Psycho" with those images and you'll share our experience.

Day 2 we hired a tour & van to experience the Sacred Valley en route to Machu Picchu. To know the details of the Inca civilization is only to begin to understand their hugely advanced methods of arquitecture, engineering, agriculture, seismology, artistry, conservation, and astrology. We see the massive stones, we ponder the maneuvering of ONE and we are astounded. To build an entire temple, incredible, and to erect an entire city ... astounding. You truly do have to see it to believe it and still it is jaw-dropping.

Day 3 . . . Machu Picchu. I'm not going to attempt to describe it. We took an obscene number of photos, but all agree that you wouldn't feel the awesome energy and beauty by looking at our photo album. It was definitely one of the best days of our trip and we understand why it is one of the Seven Wonders of the world. There was actually a moment (or two) when I was overcome with gratitude for God´s creation. Not only the surrounding lush, green mountains, but the ever changing sky and fog, the animals, the flowers and the birds had us filled to the brim, no, overflowing.

We can't access our photos on the laptop and we are heading into the Peruvian jungle tomorrow morning, so we won`t be able to blog for another week. Please check back!!