Peru and Machu Picchu

We spent the last twelve days exploring Peru including some hiking in the Andes.  This was the first trip for both of us to Peru and we started off in Lima, the capital.  With a population around 11 million it is like most big cities: lots to see, lots of traffic, and a lot of people.  Our first introduction was to the traffic where we learned quickly that traffic markings are more a suggestion and the pedestrians don't have the right-of-way.  But we soon learned to navigate our way around being especially careful anytime we needed to cross the street.  While in Lima we saw the Huaca Pucllana pyramid which predates the Inca influence and enjoyed a wonderful restaurant that overlooks it.  This was our first taste of guinea pig, which we had as an appetizer.  Guinea pig is a national dish in Peru and was fairly tasty. 

We also toured the historical center of Lima and the wonderful Larco museum during which we had the most entertaining curator describe the collection of pre-Columbian and Incan artifacts.  After a few days in Lima we started the hiking portion of our vacation heading up to 11,000 feet in Cusco, Peru.  Another lovely town although woefully short of oxygen for a town built onto the side of a steep (really steep) hillside.  This was our first look at the Andes and it certainly can claim beautiful mountain vistas as one after another mountain top stretched as far as the eye could see.

We did several hikes in the area around Cusco and the Sacred Valley during which we acclimated to the elevation, saw many Incan ruins, and got to understand Peruvian culture including how they have adapted to living at such a high elevation.  We also got to enjoy many of the local specialties, including multiple kinds of potatoes, beer made from a corn base (chicha) and, yes, more guinea pig (that's the dish that Jo is holding, along with the corn that contains the largest kernels that either of us had ever seen).

All the hiking was in preparation for our day long hike along the Inca trail leading to Machu Picchu.  We had great weather for the hike and since there are many impressive Incan ruins along the way there are lots of sites to take in before you reach the fabled Sun Gate at Machu Picchu.  Cresting the final hill and then seeing Machu Picchu laid out before us gave both Jo and I lumps in our throats.  We were really happy to be able to see this impressive site and managed to accomplish the hike without any blisters.  We spent the following day walking around Machu Picchu with a guide to explain the layout and use of the various buildings.

Then it was back to Cusco, on the train, to see Sacsayhuaman, another over the top Incan ruin and enjoy a wonderful picnic lunch on a meadow looking out over Cusco and the Andes.  Fortunately, we had only minor troubles with Pachacuti's revenge (what our tour group started naming intestinal distress using the most famous Incan king) during our trip and never had any problems with any of our hikes our tours.

We had a phenomenal trip and one that we will remember for a long time - especially since we took 750 pictures.  I can only include a small number of pictures here, but if anyone who visits is likely to get the full run (you are warned).

Let's Go Milwaukee Bucks

We had a quiet weekend, for once and spent it nesting at home as much as possible.  Friday night, Jo hosted some of her HR team at the Milwaukee Bucks game which was their home opener under the new management.  The team actually won, which is almost a first for us watching the Bucks, so maybe there is some hope for the team.  It was nice meeting some more of Jo's team along with their spouses and the pizza at the Bradley Center was as tasty as ever.


Saturday we started our morning with a long walk to enjoy the sun and cool temperatures.  Then it was off to the gym for a little biking and lifting before settling in to watch the Badger's play Rutgers.  The afternoon was spent tackling a few chores around the house and then Kathy and John joined us later in the evening (they were in town for a brunch with Drew and Amy and the "potential" in-laws, no rings yet, but signs are promising).  We got to enjoy their photos of their recent trip to Italy where they took in Rome, Florence, and Venice along with a few other stops along the way.  It was amazing how it brought back memories of our trip and even the ability to remember things we thought were long forgotten.  Really made us want to go back - maybe in 2015.


Jo was up early on Sunday for a business trip to Phoenix so we didn't really get to enjoy the extra hour of sleep.  She arrived safely and was able to get in a hike to the top of Camelback Mountain (for those not in the know, Jo is showing her school spirit, flashing a W - it's a Badger thing).  I spent the day goofing off and working hard at not accomplishing anything productive.  I was quite successful, but then practice makes perfect.  Rest of the week has been quiet if you ignore the leaking plumbing in the basement which has required multiple trips to the hardware store along with some serious cursing and bruised knuckles.  It was good that Jo was in Phoenix and didn't have to listen to everything coming out of the basement.  The fun thing with a 100 year old house's plumbing that relies on galvanized piping is that every time you take apart one joint, three others decide it is now time to leak.  But with my fingers and toes crossed, I think I have stopped all the leaks - for now.