A place on a mountain

Stones placed in the green earth leading up the path. Stars were beginning to fade as the sky took on a blue jean color. How many more steps to the top? Unknown. But we kept walking until we were in the clouds. It looked like fog and as dawn approached all you could make out was your immediate surroundings. If the stones weren't HUGE steps leading upward, I wouldn't believe I was so high in the sky. All around were varieties of green plants with occasional bright flowers of pink, red and orange. I felt like I was in the rain forest as a butterfly with a brilliant blue and green floated near by. Oh yeah...the Amazon Basin is just miles away...so I guess it is the outskirts of the rain forest. Looking up with hope that the path was ending another long zigzag path lay ahead. Determined, we kept going just one step at a time...and almost two hours later we were at the top! What a great accomplishment.

Machupicchu...one of the seven new wonders of the world (well actually it's the Inca village near the mountain Machupicchu that's one of the seven wonders). Enclosed by rich green covered mountains, it's easy to see why no one found it until about 95 years ago. Now the stone walls and structures still remain making it a great place to explore (or get lost in). Wondering through rows of houses, the view from their stone windows was breathtaking!! Mountains with wisps of clouds covering parts of them. Continuing to wander an ending on a large stretch of green grass, it's easy to envision the place come alive. The Incas were a brilliant people group and this place was believed to have been a university as well as for royalty. These people depended on nature and honored the gods of the sun, water, moon and more, but it's interesting too because according to our tour guide they had a belief in one God..a powerful God who they honored the most...the creator God.

Favorite and most frustrating part of the place was the maze like characteristics it possessed. For those of you who know, Erin and I are both very good at directions and knowing how to get places and we were here too. Except only one problem. The place just didn't connect. We would be going in the direction of the exit, when we'd come across a wall or the edge of a cliff and have to turn around. So trying to leave was an adventure in its self. Good thing we weren't trying to escape or run away from someone cause we never would have made it. =0)

Now back in cuzco, we are preparing for our next adventure!!

Best parts of today? Erin getting a camera charger!!! Talking in French. Speaking broken Spanish with a wonderful girl and making a new friend. Riding through red mountains and talking to a couple Californians. Arriving back at our wonderful hostel. Taking a walk with Erin and getting around a scary dog. Eating mushy rice and tomato sauce for dinner. Talking to my sister and wishing her a Happy Birthday on the phone.

Cuzco

She sits on the stairs, wrinkled face and crooked hands. I wonder how she manages to make such beautiful hats, scarves, mittens and even purses. Yet as I pass and say "Hola" her hands steady work at a new green hat. We can't communicate much, but we both try. Her name is Jesusa and right away she attempts to tell me the meaning...that it's the girl form of Jesus. I think she's Catholic of sorts. I'm a regular now...and have passed by her several times in the last 24 hours so she longer asks me to buy her goods. We just chat one or two word phrases. I wish that I could speak more to her than this. I try to tell her, her work is good. She smiles, I smile and then I walk back down the stairs again.

We are in Cuzco, just two blocks up from the main square. It doesn't seem far...right? Oh but I didn't mention it's two blocks up a steep hill. Even people who live at this attitude get out of breath so you can just imagine how short of breath a forefinger can become. I like it though...it's like conquering a challenge sort of like running. And the view is simply breathtaking from the window. Mountains in the background with the city between. I feel like I should be in a movie.

Actually there was one today. On the main square...multiple cameras and TONS of security. It was just one of the many things Erin and I saw on our 4+ hour walk. Yep, we walked about the entire town. Children in blue school uniforms to men in white masks setting off fireworks and playing music, we about saw it all. Accidentally getting off the main path, we walked quickly through an area of town I am sure most tourist haven't seen. Two men were building a house out of mud bricks, lots of markets and raw meat with flies... the streets just went on. Good thing Erin and I have a good sense of direction!!!

Tomorrow off to the Sacred Valley.

South America!

Moon shining brightly on the patchy clouds making them glow at 11pm and through the clouds rests patches of lights in small clusters. Can it really be? South America is below and soon my feet shall touch this continent. Turning to Erin, I can't help but feel a bit overwhelmed. This is really happening.

Already the trip has gone on forever...getting stuck in an airport related to a delayed flight, then switching to another which also was delayed from a toilet not working...and then finally to Miami only to miss our next flight, but oh so much fun! We stayed in a hotel and then got free airport food the next day! Meeting people and starting to hear some Spanish around us, it really was a good day. It's all about attitude.

Finally we exited the airport. Taxi drivers beeping horns and yelling, it was nice that our luggage was lost...we didn't have much to carry. Trying to speak Spanish, brain feeling fried from lack of sleep, we were off. It didn't take long to realize that the driver was lost. Yep...going down one street and up the next only to turn around and go back down the street again. Mumbling Spanish under his breath and then yelling out the window and asking for directions a couple of time. Finally we arrived.

Melinda. What a blessing. Opening the front gate, we passed 3 more gates before we finally reached her lovely apartment. Dark wooden floor and a simple table and couch. We stayed up talking even though the hour was so late or actually early....

Friday we went to Melinda's school. I loved working with the kindergarteners. I even taught a lesson on autumn. Playing with them at recess, I was amazed at all the places these young kids have been. Oh! And we received our luggage at the school! Fresh clothes were wonderful!

Today...wow...going to the open market reminded me so much of Benin, Africa! Loved it. Meat just hanging out; chicken with the guts colorfully arranged on the muscle, fruits and vegetables in bright patterns and spices filling the air.

A edible swan and shelves of pastries that looked more like artwork than something to eat. Amazing flavor, Erin and I shared a few.

Wind, a powerful strong force. Gliding through the air...flying because of the wind.... and seeing the beach, coast line and city. Brushing the top of a tree with my foot. I think I know what it feels like to be a bird.

Eating raw fish with onions and lime. It's a specialty here and really the meat just melts in your mouth. Best part? Eating with Erin, Melinda and a Peruvian...learning some Spanish and more of the culture surrounding us.

This is Lima, Peru!