Now all we did was take a flight north a little and we did drop a bit in altitude, but we arrive in Cuzco to the suprise of sun and warmth, niceeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Cuzco is Inca central, the old heartland, full of ruins, history and artefacts. The tourist gateway to the Sacred Valley and the Inca Trail and all of the Inca sites one sees along the journey, including Machu Picchu. It is also the most tourist ready place we have visited so far. Literally everything in the city is geared for tourism - trips, restuarants, massages, shopping, you get the picture. You cannot move without someone trying to sell you something, this is its downfall, for it is beautiful, full of a mix of Inca/Colonial arcitecture and set in a valley, but the selling to and position of us as cash cows gets too much and it lacks as place to relax and suck it up without hassle - no I dont want a painting, massage, gringo hat, no gracias!

Rant over, we are of course part of the problem so I am aware of this juxtaposition. I got over it anyway and stopped being a grump. We met more buds from Arg (well they are really from Oz) and stayed in a lary party hostel called ´Wild Rover´. Run by some Irish guys who saw a great opportunity, the rooms are grand, the drinks cheap and good and the food top too, so you don´t leave. A few days there with hangovers and they are off for their trail dead early, so we sleep in for a bit more and then check into a place with a view for some relaxation.

Cuzco is such a touristville that we did have some great international food, including another good curry (English owners) and the best burger in the world. Also some cheap and good set lunches which include more typical Peruvian food. Also had guinea pig, tandoori, ha, it was nice but a bit fiddly and with a mini claw, mmmm sqeak. It is called Cuy in Peru and is typical cuisine, part of their culture for hundreds or even thousands of years, so although I know we keep them as pets at home (evil red eyes) eating them is like eating beef to Peruvians. More Llama and Alpaca too, nice, and lots of Trout.

We got really nervous before the Inca Trail. Will we make it, can we do it. Went and hired walking sticks, a real asset. Checked into our hostel as part of the tour and met our group, everyone looked a little apprehensive too so all in the same boat, phew. Off to bed for one more night and then we started - this trip was booked months before we left, cost more than the average and we looked forward to it for ages.....