We got to sleep in today. For the first time during this trip we didn't have to be up before 5:30 am. The hikers were leaving for their 3 or 4 day hikes in the mountains and we will be going back to Cusco to learn more about that beautiful city. We left our beautiful villa nestled between the mountains and headed to the Maras salt mines which are located at an altitude of 3,380 meters in a small village, famous for its salt mines. It is made up of about 3000...

The Sacred Valley of the Incas was undoubtedly a key area of settlement to the Incas. Its agreeable climate and fertile plains make a rare and fruitful combination for the high Andes. It was also the route to the jungle and therefore an area with access to the fruits and plants of the tropical lowlands. The Sacred Valley served as a buffer zone, protecting Cusco from incursions of the Antis, the fierce jungle tribes who from time to time raided the highlands. ...

Today was a travel day. We took the canoe out of the jungle to Puerto Maldonado for the flight over the Andes into the heart of Inca territory, Cusco. The canoe ride was lovely with the breeze and the temperatures cooler first thing in the morning. Then it was into a non-air conditioned, old bus for the bumpy, dusty ride to pick iup our stored luggage and repack it for the flight to Cusco. We were NOT impressed with the bus ride and made our feelings known. We we...

Day 2 in the jungle. Yup, we made it through the first day and night (despite losing most of our bodily fluids from sweating) and avoiding being stung, bitten or eaten alive! It's soooo hot here - 35 degrees Celsius and 100% humidity!!!! We awoke to the sounds of the jungle at around 4:00 am even though our wake up time wasn't until 5:00. We heard many bird songs and an eerie sound just like Richard Dreyfuss heard in the film Close Encounters of the Thi...

For those of you who were worried we made it out of the jungle in two pieces (Vic is one piece and I am the other). I am trying to catch up on the blogs but we have little access to the Internet and very little time to do anything on it when we do. They are keeping us very busy with early mornings and late finishes. So please be patient. I will work on it when I have time and access to the Internet. Today (that would be Monday the 26th) we flew to Puerto Maldon...