This next picture is of Ryan in the Park of Love right by the hotel we stayed at first in Lima.
This is Christmas Eve Day. It was so hot---so Christmas trees made out of flowers. At midnight, we were awakened by fireworks.
From Lima we took a plane to Cuzco. When we first arrived I didn't feel so well because of the altitude. We went around the city a bit to some old ruins and colonial buildings but I fainted at the monastery. We took a bus to several ruins outside Cuzco, but I didn't feel so well still so the first few I had to see from the bus. Ryan got out and walked around though. Here is Ryan in front of a ruin that I can't remember how to spell but sounds like "Sexy Woman".
Another ruin outside of Cuzco...
This is Pisac Market. I bought my nativity scene from this man.
This is a ruin called Ollantaytambo.
Ryan is eating a favorite local dish-guinea pig, and our favorite drink, Inca Kola, (which tastes like bubblegum, to wash it down.
From Cuzco we took a train to Macchu Picchu. This is my handsome Ryan taking it all in.
We spent a night in the small town below Macchu Picchu. I would definitely recommend anybody visiting Macchu Picchu to stay at least one night. There is plenty to see for two days and if you stay you can get to the ruins first when there is nobody around and the ruins are still in the clouds. We got up early and tried to be first.
Only myself and the llamas, waking up from the night.
Our tour guide told us that you should only climb this mountain if the spirit of the mountain called to you. Ryan and I thought we heard the mountain's spirit until we were about halfway up, then I wasn't so sure, but I was too close to turn back.
On top of the mountain there were more ruins. The Incas didn't really care how formidable the environment was or how steep things must be.
Another ruin on that silly mountain. We love it because even though tourist have died at Macchu Picchu, they still let you just climb around and explore. 200 foot cliff-no ropes, no signs, nothing.
From Macchu Picchu we took a train ride back to Cuzco and then left the next morning on another train to Juliaca/Puno. The train was charming-plush armchairs and wood. Entertainment was provided and the last car was an open air lounge to view the surrounding vistas. The only drawback was that our train was not real fast-probably 35 miles per hour at top speed. We spent a chunk of time on it-11 hours, to go a relatively short distance. This is us hanging out in the last lounge.
Puno is a little city nestled next to Lake Titicaca. We stayed at a hotel on the shoreline. We took a boat to the floating islands. These islands are manmade from reeds (that have to be replaced every 2 months because they rot). People and their dogs and everything they need are on these islands. It feels like walking on a wet spongy trampoline. Ryan bought, wrote, and posted this card to his family from one of the floating islands. It made it to them even.
This is a traditional island on Lake Titicaca called Taquile. They have a very isolated and traditional society. They live as a community and do not have laws, police, or jails. They dress in traditional dresses with shawls and colors indicating whether they are single or not and they still speak the pre-spanish language.
After a day on the island, this is just one of the arches on the way out. The island has two entries, one is a series of around 500 steep irregular stairs, the other a steep sloping dirt switchback---I'm not sure which is worse, we used both. From Puno we caught a plane back to Lima and then flew home. (Actually, I went home, Ryan went to Pheonix to see University of Utah play in their big game, priorities.)
