Lima a Cusco
Trip Start
May 11, 2006
1
4
15
Trip End
May 21, 2006
Cusco,
Peru
Friday, May 12, 2006
Lima a Cusco
It's a very early wake up call today at 3:45 am. The flight to Cusco leaves at 07:35, and we have to be there at 6:00 am. Groggy after yesterday's monumental journey, we all manage to stagger downstairs. Fortunately, even at this time there are porters who help us with the luggage. As all flights to Cusco leave very early in the morning, the whole local tourism community is up and about at these unearthly hours, so we are not surprised to find Bratzo waiting for us at the door of the hotel. Traffic is light, so within 20 minutes we are at the airport. It looks like market day. There are hundreds of people swarming around. It seems every domestic flight in the country leaves Lima at 7:30 am. We find the TACA counter, which blessedly, unlike Miami, is not too crowded. This is the only domestic Peruvian flight that TACA operates, so we are lucky in that respect.
Once checked in, we purchase our airport tax of US$ 5.00 each at the bank
1. Welcome Committee Cusco
. I guess they don't trust the airlines. We then have a bite to eat and await boarding. We are shocked that a humble Inca Cola at the airport costs US$ 2.00. As usual, the flight is right on time, a modern and spotless aircraft and quite friendly crew. We even get a coffee and a doughnut to keep away the pangs of hunger. The view of the snow-capped Andes out of the left side of the aircraft is nothing short of spectacular. The entrance to Cusco airport is as hair-raising as ever, with a steep bank to the left brushing over the tops of the mountains and then a vertiginous drop to the valley below, followed by a perfect landing on the relatively short runway. When I last came to Cusco, the airport was at the edge of town. Now it seems to be in the heart as the city has spread inexorably along the valley floor.
http://www.cusco-peru.org/cusco-history-cusco-history1.shtml.
We disembark, and are greeted by an Inca musical group. The airport is modern and somewhat severe. We select an ancient porter, who seems to be at least 100 years old, to carry our 10 bags. The official taxi fare to the centre of town is advertised at S/. 10.00 ($ 3.00). Our erstwhile porter collars a minivan which also charges just S/
2. Hostal Q`osqo
. 10. Talk about a bargain! Our S/. 5 tip to the porter is highly appreciated.It's a ten minute drive from the airport, and we are soon unloading again at our modest pension, located just half a block from the Plaza de Armas. The Hostal Qosqo is a small property with about ten rooms. It offers basic comforts, private bathrooms, is clean and friendly. Some of the rooms have great views (others don't even have windows). You could see the Plaza de Armas from Cecilia's room, and our room faced the church of La Merced. On the first evening we are lulled to sleep by the dirges of a funeral service, and the next morning awoken by the effervescent resonance of early morning mass. Cecilia's room is beset by street noise, with the interior rooms as quiet as a grave.
http://www.peru-explorer.com/qosqo_hostal.htm.
