Pisac, Peru

Pisac is a lovely little town full of beautifully colourful Peru scenary, both in the famous market and the Andean lanscape. After a lovely breakfast on Sunday morning with Mercades, our new friend and host at Paz y Luz, we all headed into town to take part in their busy Sunday Market, which is both for tourists and local villagers, who come in from the surrounding hillsides to trade their goods. I think our Moms had the most fun, although I have to say, both Graham and Scott got right into the bargaining and fun of the it all. We, of course, picked up some amazing crafts and jewels. In the afternoon, we headed for the hills, for a trek to a famous Inca ruins. It was a beautiful day when we started, which made the steep, thin steps around the moutain’s edge doable. Once we made it to the ruins, we had little time to wonder around before the sky was taken over by dark clouds. So as we walked back, thankfully on an easier path, we experienced some rain and an amazing hail storm. The second natrual wonder for our parents, who all experienced an earthquake in the Lima airport, on their way to Cusco. Once back to the road, our faithful taxi driver, Larry, was there to quickly get us back to Paz y Luz, to dry off and warm up (we were soaked)! That evening, we headed back to town for dinner and another Pisco Sour. We have decided to take in upon ourselves to test Pisco Sours around the region, and so far this Pisac Pisco was the best bang or the buck (5 soles). The next morning we headed to Cusco to start our preperations for our big and much anticipated trip to Macchu Picchu!

Paz y Luz, Pisac, Peru

We all arrived at Paz y Luz in the morning on Saturday, March 29. All rooms had comfortable beds, a private bathroom with a skylight, and good showers. There was a glass/stone breakfast room with mountain views. We listened to the sounds of the flowing sacred river and enjoyed the peaceful surroundings for three days.

Paz y Luz

Pisac, Peru

Tel. +51-84-203204

reserve@pazyluzperu.com

www.pazyluzperu.com

Parents in Peru!

We woke early on Saturday, March 29th, both too excited to sleep and with a list of errands to do, before picking our parents up from the airport! We had an early breakfast by the fire and headed out in seperate directions to pick up train tickets, print schedules and purchase our Machu Picchu tickets, before the arrival of Karen and Graham, Susanne and Scott at 10:30AM!!! We decided to surprise them at the airport (we told them we would meet them in Pisac), and I think it is safe to say they were thrilled to see us. After many hugs, we hopped into two Pisac taxis and enjoyed an hour ride through the Sacred Valley to our Pisac retreat, Paz y Luz B&B.

Los Niños Hotels in Cusco

Our second night in Cusco was spent in a very special/interesting hotel. Jolanda van den Berg, from the Netherlands, is the founder of Niños Hotels. Both Niños Hotels are in Cusco, Peru. The profits from the hotels are used to give 500 extremely neglected children from Cusco a hot meal on a daily basis, a warm shower, medical and dental assitance, homework and sports lessons.

The Niños Hotels offer two-star service and are situated within walking distance of the Plaza de Armas. They are established in wholly renovated old buildings of about 300 and 150 years respectively. The Niños Hotels each have a large sunny patio and breakfast and lunch room where homemade bread is served.

Niños Hotel

Calle Meloc 442

Cusco, Peru

Tel. 084 231424

ninoshotel@terr.com.pe

www.ninoshotel.com

Cusco, Peru

We arrived safely in Cusco, Peru at 11:30PM on March 27, after another bizare bus trip. We had arranged transportation through our hotel in Copacabana (La Cupula). From Copacabana to Cusco it takes approximately 12 hours by bus and our ticket was US$15 in total. We switched buses three times (all different companies). From Copacabana to Puno it took 2 hours by bus; this portion costed US$11. The remaining portion to Cusco took 10 hours and costed US$4. Makes sense eh? To make a long story short, our hotel ripped us off! Advice: don't let travel agents or bus companies book long legs of travel for you that involve switching buslines, they will almost always over-charge. Upon arriving in Cusco, we stayed at the following hostal for one night:

Hostal Familiar

Calle Saphy 661
Cusco, Peru

Tel. 239353

Isla de la Sol, Bolivia

We arrived on the north side of Isla de la Sol early on Wedensday, March 26th, after a two hour boat ride from Copacabana. This Island and Lake Titicaca are central to Inca spirituality and history, as it is believed that the sun and moon rose from the water and was the birth place of all creation. We started off on a guided trek on an ancient Inca road, which ended at a beautiful and remote Inca ruin. Here we learned of the Inca creation story, which was decribed by our guide, who used the amazing rock formations and landscapes as visual aids. Now on our own, we enjoyed a little picnic in the ruins and hiked to the south end of the island. This was a spectacular trek that followed the top terraces of the slopping hills down to the water. After about three hours we arrived in Yumani. Here we found a hostel for the night, and an amazing restuarant to watch the sunset on their terrece (with thier llama), while playing cribbage and drinking a cold Bolivian Pilsener. After the sun went down we went into the restaurant for a lovely candle light dinner (they did not have electricity). Around 9 we found our way back to our hostel in the dark, we went to bed in this quiet town. Since we watched the sunset on the Island of the Sun, we thought we should watch the sunrise, which was a brilliant display of colours over the Andes. While we sat quietly watching, we also witnessed the morning ritual, of some of the town’s people, which is walking down the steep hill with two to six donkeys and dozens of water jugs, to then fill them , strap them to either side of the donkey and assend the hill, providing water for the enter town.
We visited another Inca ruin that morning, after arranging to be picked up by the small ferry boat at 10:30. We arrived back in Copacabana in time to catch our bus to Cusco. Before jumping on our bus, however, we ran into our family friends from Edmonton, the McPhee’s! Jennifer and Rob were heading south, so we only had time for a quick chat, in the middle of bus loading confussion, but it was wonderful to see familar faces!

Isla de la Sol, Lake Titicaca, Bolivia

We spent Wednesday, March 26 on Isla de la Sol, which is was a sacred ceremonial site for the Incas. We stayed at the following hostal facing the snow-capped Andes.

HOTEL IMPERIO DEL SOL