First Day in Cusco

We got to Cusco this morning without incident and after getting here at 8am decided to do an all day trip to the Sacared Valley. The sacred valley was once the agricultural centre of the Inca civilization. We traveled to many different villages and a very large Inca temple that had most of the city restored. While we were here we went into one of the homes of a local family. It was about 15x20 feet wide and had an open fire for an oven that was in the corner with a hole in the roof for its ventilation. It reminded me a lot of what the Thai people lived in in the hill tribes. There was no running water, no toilet, a dirt floor that had about 30 guinni pigs living on it. The beds were small cots shoved in the corner. It really makes you appreciate what we have in America.

For dinner we went to a very nice resturant and had alpaca meat, it was actaully very good. Alpaca is basically a high altitude long haired lama. Its a native meat, that even the inkas used to eat. The wool of the alpaca is very expensive and highly sought after.

Tomorrow we leave on a 3 day rafting trip so this will be the last update for a few days.

Off to bed, we are exhausted.

Last Day in Lima

Today is our last day in Lima and we spent it on a tour of the City. Lima is more of a county and with in Lima there are different cities. Our tour took us all over Lima including the presidential palace, pre-inca ruins and San Francisco.
San Francisco is a very old monistary. We were able to go below the monistary and church into the catacombs to view the old burial sites of about 25,000 people. The church itself was very large and beautiful, and still activie. They have masses on Saturday and Sunday. They even have the original library that has over 2000 books on display.
After our tour we did a little shopping but didn´t get much. The city is much more croweded today, Monday, than it was on the weekend. Traffic is crazy, similar to Thailand but they drive a little slower. There are lines on the roads but we don´t see many people following them. A red light doesn´t seem to mean much to people especially the pedestrians who just jump our and run accross the road when they can.
We are off to Cuzco early tomorrow morning so we will have to pack up and get ready to go. We have to leave for the airport around 4:30am, uhg.

Buenos Tardes (good night)

Rick and Jeanne

Lima, Peru

We have a little more time now, though the computer is still in spanish we are managing.

Had a nice day walking around Lima and even got a little geoaching done. Stopped at McDonalds and got our $.50 ice cream cones and enjoyed watching them build a very interesting rendintion of a Christmas Tree. Its a little odd to see these fake pine trees here but its a little piece of home so its nice.

Weather is pleansant depending on what part of the city you are in. We spent most of our walk along the ocean so there was a nice breeze. Once we got more into the heart of the city you could really feel all the heat and humidity, its supposedly about 72 degrees.

Tomorrow we plan to take a city tour to see San Francisco.......

more to come later

We arrived

Made it to Lima Peru, got in around 12:30 this morning and just now trying to figure out how to work the computer since everthing is in Spanish. Just wanted to post that we are here. Will try an update later since someone is waiting for the computer.

Jeanne and Rick

Pre Trip/Itinerary

Our Trip Itinerary

Sat, Nov 25: CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, CO 1444
From: SAN FRANCISCO, CA (SFO) map
Departs: 9:00am
Departure Terminal: TERMINAL 1
To: HOUSTON GEO BUSH, TX (IAH) map
Arrives: 3:00pm
Arrival Terminal: TERMINAL C
Flight Time: 4 hour(s) and 0 minute(s)

Sat, Nov 25: CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, CO 0590
From: HOUSTON GEO BUSH, TX (IAH) map
Departs: 4:05pm
Departure Terminal: TERMINAL E
To: LIMA, PERU (LIM) map
Arrives: 11:35pm
Flight Time: 6 hour(s) and 30 minute(s)

Tue, Nov 28: TACA, TA 0007Operated by TRANS AMERICAN AIRLINES
From: LIMA, PERU (LIM) map
Departs: 6:00am
To: CUZCO, PERU (CUZ) map
Arrives: 7:25am

Seat(s): 12A 12B
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: ZVCO98

Flight Time: 1 hour(s) and 25 minute(s)

Fri, Dec 8: TACA, TA 0008Operated by TRANS AMERICAN AIRLINES - TACA PERU From: CUZCO, PERU (CUZ) map
Departs: 7:55am
To: LIMA, PERU (LIM) map
Arrives: 9:20am
Class: Economy
Seat(s): 12E 12F
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: ZVCO98
Meal: No meal service
Flight Time: 1 hour(s) and 25 minute(s)


Fri, Dec 8: TACA, TA 0132Operated by TRANS AMERICAN AIRLINES - TACA PERU From: LIMA, PERU (LIM) map
Departs: 11:05am
To: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA (BOG) map
Arrives: 2:00pm
Arrival Terminal: TERMINAL 2

Class: Economy
Seat(s): 13A 13B
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: ZVCO98
Meal: Refreshment - Complimentary , Food for Purchase
Flight Time: 2 hour(s) and 55 minute(s)

Dec 11 Fly to Cartagena, Colombia from Bogota
Dec 14 Fly to Bogota from Cartagena
Dec 16 Fly to the Amazon from Bogota
Dec 22 Fly to Bogota from Amazon

Sat, Dec 23: CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, CO 0882
From: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA (BOG) map
Departs: 9:00am
Departure Terminal: TERMINAL 1
To: HOUSTON GEO BUSH, TX (IAH) map
Arrives: 1:10pm
Arrival Terminal: TERMINAL E
Status: Confirmed

Meal: Breakfast
Flight Time: 5 hour(s) and 10 minute(s)

Sat, Dec 23: CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, CO 0361
From: HOUSTON GEO BUSH, TX (IAH) map
Departs: 4:15pm
Departure Terminal: TERMINAL C
To: SAN FRANCISCO, CA (SFO) map
Arrives: 6:47pm
Arrival Terminal: TERMINAL 1

Status: Confirmed
Meal: Snack
Flight Time: 4 hour(s) and 32 minute(s)