4th April Arequipa founded in 1540 has a skyline dominated by Mt Misti 5822 metres and flanked to the left is ragged Mt Chachani 6075 metres and to the right is Pichu Pichu 5571 metres. It is also known as the white city because the buildings were made of pure white volcanic material , Sillar. The colonial architecture is magnificent. The Plaza de Armas is impressive and is surrounded on 3 sides by arcaded buildings. We did a reality tour with Miguel. This to...

Left Cuzco for Chivay 16 hour drive through mountains. Views of El Misti were magnificent. Danny and the truck left us an hour out of Chivay and we continued our journey in a mini bus with a local guide. We could not stay at Chivay as the roads were being repaired next day so we continued on another hour and half to Cabaconde which is a traditional town. 3rd April Jan and I walked into the Plaza, visited the church and the fountain had a large condor on top. We...

30th March Picked up at 10.50am by taxi and transferred to train station in Ollantaytambo. There had been a landslide overnight which blocked the road, lucky to catch train on time . Taxi driver was yelling bamboos. Train left at 1pm for Aguascalientes, arrived at 14.30pm. This little vlllage is nestled in a deep valley 8kms from Machu Picchu. The pathways are stepped and full of massage places and handicraft stalls. Checked into hotel Killa Inn. Walked to Plaz...

28th March Free Day so I went to the Samana day spa for 4 hours. Chocolate body wrap, deep tissue massage, jacuzzi, steam and dry sauna. Wow did I feel relaxed. Next stop was lunch Nuna Raymi. Next stop hair dresser and manicure. Shopping and visited Catedral Del Cusco built in 1534 which was absolutely amazing. The silver altars and gold leaf altarpieces and chapels were remarkable. There were paintings over 6 metres high and 5 metres wide. The most spectacul...

27th March The Sacred Valley lies between the towns of Pisac and 0llantaytambo. Our first stop was Sacsayhuamán is a walled complex on the northern outskirts of Cuzco the former capital of the Inca Empire. The complex is as many other Inca constructions made of large polished dry-stone walls, each boulder carefully cut to fit together tightly without mortar. Because of its location high above Cuzco and its immense terrace walls, this area of Sacsayhuaman is re...