signs from Peru

Before we get to our last Peru posting about the sacred valley I had to share a short one on some of the signs and amusing things we saw in Peru

It was like you were with us Nonna!

Many cool doors in Cusco- this one especially so

I dunno will he?

Nice recycling touch

Luca took this one- he thought it was quite funny

Now that is a statue.

Oh why must fast food be America's main export?

You can always tell when Luca has had the camera

Bus route in black, hiking in green. and boy did those hikers get the dust when passed on the road- bummer.

On the train ride back to Cusco they had a fashion show- you can only imagine what the next outfit looks like based on Luca's expression and the rainbow number behind him.

We kept seeing these on rooftops. They are placed there to bring luck to the house.

traditional Incan gatorade

The coolest orange peeler I have ever seen.

So this last one is my favorite. Lisa and Lisa went out on a run and upon returning said that some guy asked if they wanted to go see a "sexy woman". It wasn't asked rudely or offensively. Later a man asked us if we wanted to see "sexy woman" we could go back to his house and take a horseride to get there. Now we were a bit confused. Later in our trip it all cleared up when a lady giving us a tour told us about the ruins just outside of Cusco called Saqsaywaman. We had a good chuckle and told her of our misunderstanding. She smiled and said "yeah we get that alot". 

Wayna Picchu

Well that looks easy, or so you think. That my friends is Wayna Picchu. We had to be at the base by 8:00 in the morning so we could hike to the top. Dad, Luca, and I hiked all the way to the top. Mom chickened out (no just kidding, she was just stressed, and didn't want to see us climb on edges.) We started the hike and it looked like no big deal, we were walking through a forest so we could only see little bits of the valley floor. After we passed this one big rock we started climbing the real mountain. Stairs were carved into the wall, man they were steep!

We kept climbing without stop and we eventually reached a terrace just below the top with a beautiful view. We stopped there to have a snack and met a group from Denver, Colorado. I thought this was really cool because we were in Peru and Colorado is really far away After we ate and rested up we continued till we came upon a cave. I had to crouch down to get through and dad had to crawl while Luca could walk through it. We got out of the tunnel and there was a huge line to the top. I somehow got in line before dad and Luca and got to the top first. It was breathtaking, I waited there for about two minutes looking at the view until dad and Luca showed up. After that we had to get back down.

The way down was so much harder than up. We started with very short steps with steep edge. By the time I was half way down my legs were dying. We got to the flat part dad let me go ahead and meet mom at the bottom. At the bottom I had to sign out or else they would go out and look for me along the hike and well that would not be fun for them or me. Soon thereafter I got back to the bottom I found mom and sat down in the shade for a rest. I feel very proud that I got to the top of Wayna Picchu and I will remember being at the top felt like you were king of the world.

Are we there yet?

Ha we are just getting started Wilder.

Machu Picchu

Quick, name the 7 wonders of the world -no not the ones from antiquity, I mean really, the hanging gardens of Babylon? As if. Pretty sure you'll get one if you are paying attention, In addition to the big Machu there is the great wall of China, Christ the redeemer in Rio, Petra (think Indiana Jones), the Coliseum in Rome, Chichen Itza in Mexico, the Taj Mahal in India, and Stan's burger shack in Hanksville Utah. (pretty sure about most of those)

So far Lisa leads the Isoms in numbers of wonders visited -5 (and she has been to Stans). Like Stans there is a reason Machu Pichu is a wonder of the world- the place is absolutely awe-inspiring (yet sadly there are no onion rings available (point for Stans). Here is what we saw:

We almost didn't leave the hotel room... but were glad we did.

It is a wonder of a bus ride just to get to the site! Many switchbacks with frequent reversing to let busses coming the other way pass by. Once in the park though you can't help but to just look around and take in the detail. From the walls to the canyons in the distance to the llamas there is so much to look at.

Our neighbor Jim stacks a tidy rock wall but he ain't got nada on the Incans- time to step up your game Jim!

The llamas are purely functional as lugging a lawnmower up the steps would be downright difficult.

 But they are much cuter than lawnmowers

 though not as cute as sloths

Just WOW

Nice photo bomb Daniel!

and this is where Luca just told Daniel that he saw a llama poop there

seriously amazing stone work

amigas

ninos

I have a challenge for you: what are your personal 7 wonders? What 7 places in the world are the most amazing and memorable? Think it over, discuss it around the dinner table- heck you could even share it in the comments section. and if you include Stan's Burger shack- you know you have a vote from me.
Next post: we climb that peak in the back ground.

I like trains

I am so glad that Machu Pichu is not in America. Somewhere along the way we would have built a road to it and made seeing it a much more efficient logical experience, and I would not then get to ride a train through the sacred valley.

As it is- there is no road to Machu Pichu and a 3.5 hour train ride is a lovely necessity. We got on the train and just spent the time staring out at the scenery- they even played "condor pasa" on pan pipes on the stereo... over and over and over- and get this- we didn't even mind!

Look at those windows!

Wilder excited to be away from the annoying boys: Luca, Daniel, and Innes.

They both wore these Peru jerseys for 3 straight days.

Oh you're taking pictures? Well I'm taking pictures too.

 Pretty much the most bad-ass peak I have ever seen- and the announcement comes on that it is named "Veronica"! 

We all liked the touch of place mats and fresh flowers on the table for snack time- maybe airlines could follow suit.

This was pretty cool- zipper tracks. To lose elevation quickly the train would stop and reverse on lower tracks, then repeat- like a big zig zag. Amazing Incan technology!

Chevere

Darth came along

Luca, join me and together we will rule the Incan empire.

Postcard time

And then we were in Aguas Caliente- time to check into our hotel, eat lunch, and head up to the ruins.