2 Countries
8 Cities
12 Restaurants
7 Bakeries
4 Ice Cream Shops
Thursday, November 20th, 2014
Milwaukee to Atlanta to Miami. Arriving in Miami at 1PM with a 12 hour layover commanded making a third visit to the always enjoyable South Beach.
First up were Stone Crabs at the elegant and legendary Joe’s Stone Crab Restaurant.
Admired my favorite architecture style, Art Deco, along Ocean Drive while detouring to check the beach. (No sunbathers on a warm but overcast afternoon.)
A few blocks inland are the pedestrian streets Espanola Way and Lincoln Mall Road, both showcasing a delightful amalgamation of cafes, boutiques and people watching.
Took the Miami Beach Flyer 150 back to Miami International for that 1AM flight.
Friday, November 21st, 2014
5 ½ flight to Lima.
A 2 hour layover until the hour flight east to Cusco.
Cusco.
The bus ride from Cusco into the Andes Mountains took 2 hours over twisty and bumpy roads.
Sacred Valley.
Urubamba is one of the Valley’s largest villages.
The night’s lodgings were at the outdoor oriented Inkallpa west of Urubamba.
Saturday, November 22nd, 2014
The morning’s run (at 9,000 feet) required navigating gravel roads to a small village and featured mountain vistas, adobe huts, some guy using said gravel road for #2 and seeing locals starting their day. On the way back a dog started chasing me. I almost did #2.
As the Spanish conquistadors conquered South America the Incas lived higher and higher in the mountains to avoid the altitude fearing tax collectors. Wonder if that would work now....
Incas ruled this section of Peru in the Andes above current day Pisaq.
The ubiquitous terraces of the Andes doubled as controlling mountain erosion and for cultivating crops.
Back into Pisaq to the central square Plaza de Armas.
And an alfresco lunch in the courtyard of Cuchara De Palo.
Sopa Tipica de Quinoa is a traditional Peruvian soup of quinoa with vegetables.
Orange Passion Fruit Trout.
Little bartering in the central market.
Headed out of town and along the way stopped at a roadside stand for guinea pig.
Lying in a valley along the Inca trail, Ollantaytambo is the last remaining living Inca town.
Narrow alleys are swathed in stone; cut and stacked millenniums ago.
Sunday, November 23rd, 2014
Machu Picchu is accessible by hiking or train/bus.
Peru Rail takes an hour and a half following the Rio Alcamayo.
As the miles accumulate the terrain transitions to jungle.
The rail terminates in tourist dependent Aguas Calientes.
Grab a bus that climbs 1,400 feet with dozens of switchbacks; views of the valley floor falling far below.
Machu Picchu
Hiram Bingham rediscovered Machu in 1911.
What little is known about this mountain top settlement is mostly deductions by historians and archeologists.
The complex spreads along the peak.
There are temples, living quarters and terraces for crops.
Temple of the Sun.
This shot attempts to show the steepness of all the stairs.
Back to Aguas Calientes for some lunch, shopping and bakery.
Repeat bus and train ride. This rough travel was compounded by a 2 hour bus ride to sprawling Cusco.
Monday, November 24, 2014
The morning’s run (12,000 feet) started the exploring of this city of 500,000.
After the run headed into town. Walked through a local cemetery to learn of their culture’s burial traditions.
Love, love, love local markets. Such a reflection of local culture. San Pedro Market is the largest in Cusco.
It has aisles specializing in specific wares.
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A few for fruit and a few for meat.
One for soups and one for bread.
Delightful Plaza de Armas is the central plaza in Cusco.
Templo de la Compañía de Jesús.
Trucha a la Florentina
Pictures weren’t allowed inside the circa 1600s Basilica Catedral. It was amazing with numerous oil paintings, alters, carved wood and statues all presented under soaring columns.
Santo Domingo.
Koricancha was a temple dedicated to the Incan sun god.
Plaza da Armas was stunning at night.
Dinner at Inka Grill.
Alpaca tenderloin.
Greatly enjoyed walking the stone streets at night, stopping for a Muffin Mazana.
Tuesday, November 25th, 2014
Another run through a different part of this never ending city.
Cristo Blanco was a gift from Palestine in 1945.
Turn around for this panorama of Cusco.
Village on the way into the Andes.
The ruins visited this morning are located in the mountains NE of the city.
Tambomachay’s main draw is how the Incans used underground springs to create a series of waterfalls and streams.
Paca Pucara was a protective fortress.
Q'enqo was a religious site for sacrifices. The alter (right) is under the immense rock (left).
Sacsahuaman is a massive complex known for its 120 ton plus rocks.
There was a natural slide.
Yeah, I’m doing that.
Back to Cusco for more exploring, eating and buying gifts for The Nieces.
First stop- a cabanza pastry from Panymas Panaderia Pasteleria.
Tropical Ice Cream at Dolce Vita.
El Buen Pastor.
San Blas is an artisans district in the hills NE of centro.
Swung through the bleak San Blas Market.
Mercado de Wanchaq has aisles of outdoor stalls.
Inside is for meat. Every part of the animal. Or the whole animal.
Boy, I can’t tell you how it smelled in there.
Wednesday, November 26th, 2014
Last run in Cusco before a quick hour flight back to Lima.
With 30 million residents, Lima has a third of Peru’s population.
A stark contrast to environments seen on the past few days, Miraflores is an affluent community along the Pacific SE of downtown.
amaZ is considered by many to be one of the world’s best restaurants.
Amazon Snails.
Doncella and Cashew Fruit
Wild river fish, octopus, scallops and shrimp.
Huaca Pucllana, an adobe pyramid, dates from 200 to 700 AD.
Downtown Lima.
The striking Plaza San Martin.
Plaza Mayor is Lima’s central square.
The shantytowns in the Andes foothills.
District Del Rimac
Thursday, November 27th, 2014
One more run, this one to the ocean in Miraflores.
From Lima 6 hours to Miami.
Friday, November 28th, 2014
Miami to Atlanta to Milwaukee.