Cusco, nice to be back in warm beds

Trip Start Jun 15, 2008

Trip End Aug 15, 2008

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Where I stayed

Estrellita Cusco

(Cusco hotels)

Flag of Peru Cusco, Peru
Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Despite having had a very long internet session in Lima Airport yesterday (which we were hugely undercharged for, yes!), we are back online, mainly because early tomorrow we are off for a 5 day treck to Machu Picchu so will be out of contact for a few more days. It was strange to be back on a plane, covering a distance that by bus would have taken us 26 hours in a matter of 50 minutes. We were also in the presence of some local heroes as we were on the same flight as the football team from Cuzco, all in their matching kits and drawing lots of stares and photos from the Peruvians. Imo and I in fact found ourselves sitting in the midst of them on the plane and got talking to "Javier" who was able to give us some restaurant advice and proudly name dropped "david beckham". He was also very bemused when I mentioned that I played with my university (though I may have neglected to mention our 50-1 score record last season...)

We are staying in a very nice, cheap hostel just off the plaza de armas which was a stroke of luck as it is a national holiday at the moment for the Peruvian Independence, so prices are soaring and lots of places are fully booked. Theres free tea, coffee and ´"Mate de Coca", made from the leaves from the coca plant reportedly good against altidude sickness, and slighty less strong than the stuff we were given in the Cordilleras. There, it was a big bag of leaves that you seep in hot water and then chew into a little ball in your cheek, untill your mouth starts to go numb and your eyes slightly blurry, though I wasn´t that much of a fan so never lasted to these stages! Also I slightly nievely joked about relations with Coca plants used for cocaine: silly Penny, its the one and the same. Worry not mother, I think you might have to consume around a ton of coca leaves for any negative side effects!

Today we are spending wandering around Cuzco which is very beautiful and full of warm Alpaca jumpers that we might have to invest in. We are also enjoying being back in nice warm beds before the return to tents on the way to Machu Picchu. Very exciting!

Lots and Lots and Love and BBBB

Penny xxx