1st Day in Cusco

Arrived in Cusco today at 6am and met Silvia again at the bus terminal.  I rode on a bus from a company called "Pluma", which I had just bought at the train station - 25 soles.  (I just lost a bunch of stuff I had typed... oops... here I go again).  Anyways, I met up with Jack in the Arequipa bus terminal, so we traveled together to Cusco.  The bus was really comfortable (I´d even say comfier than the Cruz del Sur bus), except the last couple of hours where it got really hot (Jack and I guessed the radiator perhaps).

Walking in the streets

So yeah, I arrived in Cusco and went with Silvia to this really nice, cheap hostel not far from the plaza de armas.  Only 15 soles per night for my own room with shower.  After checking in, Silvia and I headed out looking for breakfast, walking by the market which was just opening up.  It was a really nice walk as we witnessed Cusco waking up and people leaving their homes for work or school.  We finally found a restaurant not far from the plaza de armas and I had a nice American breakfast for 5 and a half soles.

Doggy

We then proceeded to go crazy going over the numerous options to go to Machu Pichu.  There were several different options, and Silvia ended up going for a package where she rides a bike downhill the first day, and then hikes two more days, and then climbs up to Machu Pichu on the 4th day before going back.  The 4 days/3nights cost her 170 USD, and would be around 150 USD for Peruvian citizens. 

After a lot of hard thinking, I decided to just go to Machu Pichu on my own.  On Saturday I´m doing the Sacred Valley tour, in which they´ll drop me off at Ollantaytambo.  From there I can catch the local train (which only Peruvians can use) which will cost me 10 soles, so 20 soles round trip.  Not bad, compared to the 40 something USD tourist train.  Then I´ll spend the night in Aguas Calientes, the town just beneath Machu Pichu, and wake up super early to climb up to the ruins in the morning.  I´m hoping to see my brother Gaston and maybe spend the night with him there, since he´ll be filming in Aguas Calientes for a week.

Ladies

After that, I´m planning on heading off to Puno either Monday or Tuesday night, most likely.  That should be nice (but really cold), since I´ll finally get to see Lake Titicaca.  I´ll try and see the Uros islands, and then head off to Copacabana on the Bolivian side (yaay, new country! hehe).

Anyways, I´m REALLY tired, so I´m going to try and sleep really nice and long tonight, so I can go out and check out the city tomorrow.

Thanks for reading.  ;)

DAILY PHOTOS

View from San Blas