Magical Piccus con mi madre

     I get it now. The place really is mystical. Mom and I got up at 4:30 in the morning in Aguas Calientes to make one of the first buses up to Macchupiccu. The transport up through the switchbacks starts the transport into another world. The mist that clings to the forest rises and clings to everything.  

     I will let Mom tell the rest. Copied and pasted from her email while flying home...

     I think it was titled "Toilet Seats Everywhere!"

Thankful for prep by David, Colleen, & Aidan with mesh toiletry bag, mask, ear plugs, travel & language books, S carabiner & photoshopped pic of Nana in Peruvian black bowler & braids, complete with baby on back. Love it. Michelle instructed "no jewelry". Actually forgot mine. Glad I did. Also thankful for send off by Cousin Bronwyn.
Hosteling in private rooms.
First night = suite, Pariwana, full view of Cusco, replete with tub spa. Kev says not hosteling ;). Awoke to first of daily parades from cathedral outside my side window. Saints to celebrate every day. Like back in grade school. Kids in full school uniform everywhere, shirts & ties, walking miles across fields & mountain paths to & from l'escuela. 
Second night twin room. Third night Pisac nice room. Fourth night Ollantaytumbo, lovely. My fave. New hotel/hostel, called Casa del Abuela, Grandpa's house. Plaza de Mayor, with merchants in full dress, sitting on grass, weaving, carding wool, painting, crafting, and friendly, family people everywhere. Loved it. 
Fifth night hotel Aguas Caliente. Sixth night, back to Ollantaytumbo & ruins there. Seventh night twin room, back at Pariwana, very very nice hostel, with courtyard shown in first pictures. Kev's Moto rojo ff its travels across S. America from Tierra del Fuego, thru Brazil, the Amazon and all parts in between,  seen parked across the courtyard from my suite up on top, with spa tub seen in one picture. Bright colored bedding also Pariwana. Some pics from train window, hotel/hostel windows etc. 
Went to Company of Jesus Church (Society of Jesuits), Cusco. Fascinating climb up the bell tower, past 22 carat gold altars & statues (yes plural on both), & down to catacombs beneath.
Starbucks on corner. Went once.Only decaf in the city. 
Machu Pichu incredible. Couldn't believe M& D hiked in four days & down the backside, high in the Andes. Narrow trails, loose gravel. Railings, toilet seats, tp, and toilets that will flush paper are not big here. Alpaca, guinea pig meat, & chicken are foundational sustenance, with pumpkin (zapallo) and lentil soup. See pigs heads in market shots. We did not try those ;). Instead, ate shepherds pie at highest Irish pub in the world: Paddy's Pub, Cusco, Peru, and I did try two sips of Pisco sour: 3 parts Pisco, two parts simple syrup, topped with egg white and cinnamon or other spice. My limit two sips. Kev's limit a little higher, thus we shan't ride the motorbike today. Local museums instead ;)
Yesterday toured smaller ruins: Puca Pucara, Tambomachay,and Quenco (No not Kinko, which is what I thought they were saying).
Aguas Caliente Hot springs followed Machu Pichu. Joints & muscles almost back to normal.
Last night dorm room was to be for Kev & I, but filled with two gentlemen airline employees from Lima & one other- a bit too manly for Nana. We shall seek solitude manana ;)
      Made it to Starbucks, while Kev watched Arizona Husky game on his computer. Sun Devils won.
     Cathedral today. All gold, then St. Blaise (renowned for blessing of throats = St. Blas here), then big mercado (market), then Santo Domingo. Was Temple of the Sun (eerie cutting out of hearts for the sun gods) til the Jesuits arrived. Now some mix of Catholicism & shamanism often.
      Back to Pariwana. Will try to wash my hair before trip home & hope I don't freeze, letting it dry at night, because no driers
(:). 
Hasta,
Vaya Con Dios,
Los Quiero,

The Gringa Nana   

     It was great to spend the whole week just Mom and I.

Hangin out in Cuzco

     Living in the city for a couple weeks waiting for mi madre to show up so we can go do Maccu Piccu together. Also trying to help a friend out with his motorcycle that is stuck near here in the backyard of the Comisaria in Oropesa. Good thing the boneheaded teabags in the US House got elected so the consular office is shut down while I'm trying to deal. NOT! (side rant: I find it completely embarrassing and totally idiotic that the "greatest nation on earth" can't take care of its health care system and its people LIKE EVERY OTHER CIVILIZED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. We have to start somewhere. I cannot fathom the idiocy) But i've met some great people here and gotten in tune with this city's personality/vibe, as well as the altitude.

          So when not dealing with attorneys and police and lining up a mechanic and a shop and planning itineraries and such, I've been spending my time taking the bike out most days or seeing the sights in the former capital of the Incan Empire. Its an amazing part of the world.