Inca dinka do....

We have made it to Machu Picchu.

But here is what we forgot to tell you along the way.

1. Flying out of Quito, we saw a fantastic view of the local volcano Pichincha. BUT we flew way closer to it than I have ever flown to Mt. Rainier. Kinda like the movie Alive.... you get our drift.

2. In Lima we saw a Pre Inca pyramid in downtown Lima. How did we know you may ask, hand formed bricks and an incline vs. rocks and a step formation.

3. Dinner in Lima, got to see a folk dance show. Never knew the Scissor Dancers did hip hop moves. No Rane Gear was used in the sound system.

Now to current events. On 4-29, arrived in Cusco (alt of 11,000 ft +) and headed for Chinchero. There we saw our first Inca walls, had a yarn dying demonstration and toured the local cathedral which dated from the early 1500. Got to see a community meeting in action, folks needed new tractors. Had a late lunch and a later dinner and then to bed.

Wednesday 4-30. After an early breakfast we got to visit a traditional Peruvian market where they were selling Guinea Pigs (I had one as a pet! They taste like chicken), many different types of potatoes, corn (Big Corn), pigs, cute ducks, cute rabbits and cute baby turkeys..... dinner took on a whole different twist. Next stop was Pisac to see the Inca terraces and an astronomical observatory. Hit the local market for local handicrafts and then headed up to the mountians to a hacienda for a really good local lunch. Very yummy, pisco sours were quite good and the coca tea made my tongue numb. Nice garden too and there was a really neat small cannon next to to a fireplace that was as tall as I am. After lunch, full of coca tea and deserts, we hiked up to an Inca fortress named Ollantaytambo. There we saw our first Pre-Inca (Princa) Human Sacraficial Alter which was interesting.

Thursday May 1st. Labor Day Holiday through out S. America. Got up early and caught the Peru-rail to Machu Picchu. Arrived about 9:30. Caught a bus that took us up the hill ( 3,000 ft elevation change). Arrived at the sight and proceeded to climb up. Everywhere was up...... god my feet are really really tired. It is a truly amazing sight and very hard to describe in a blog. We are very lucky to be able to be here and to have the energy to climb up all the hills and see the sights. Visited the main square, saw the royal tombs, sacred sundial, condor rocks, temple of the 3 windows and after our ritual buffet lunch, we hike up an additional 1,300 ft to the Sun Gate. Tomorrow we get a 4:30 a.m wake up call and head back to the site for sunrise over Machu Picchu, a once in a lifetime thing to see.

We are having a great time, travel companions have been wonderful, Pisco Sours are keeping us fortified.

Note to Roz - come on down to Peru, tell Frank the plumbing is fine....

Over and out.