Oct 1st to Oct 9th, 2008: Peru, South America & South Beach, Miami.
We set off with our good friends, Arthur and Sharon to Peru, South America. We flew from Indy to Miami to hook up with our Gate 1 Travel excursion (something Sharon had researched). Our Lan flight left at 2 am and landed in Lima at 7 am. We headed due south out of Miami. Lima is on Chicago time so we gained one hour. This first day was just to shake the cobwebs out of our heads and get a taste of this Capital city of 8 million people. We enjoyed a special lunch -- really more like an event, at La Mar. This was a highly recommended restaurant for seafood and, boy did it ever live up to its recommendation. I think we spent from 2 pm to 5 pm taking in all the sights, tastes and smells. We enjoyed several Pisco Sours, the local drink specialty, that helped raise our spirits.
On Thursday, we had to catch an early morning 45 minute flight to Cuzco. Cuzco was the center of the Incan Empire and today has a population of 700,000. But more important, it is 11,000 feet above sea level so Roceo, our tour leader, recommended a day of leisure, rest and relaxation. An couple of people from the group were not able to make the adjustment. One even ended up in the hospital before cutting her stay short and catching a flight back to Lima. Fortunately, the four of us were able to adjust with little side effects other than a slight headache and shortness of breath. In the afternoon we took a bus tour of Cuzco. We stopped at an Incan ruin named Sacsayhuaman. When pronounced, this sounded like "Sexy Woman" so it got my attention. Huge boulders had been transported several miles and the Incas didn't even have the wheel.
The main reason for this whole adventure was to get to see Machu Picchu. We got on an early morning train in Cuzco and set out northward. It was a 3 1/2 hour journey through the Andes. It was easy to see why this was voted one of the seven wonders of the modern world. Fortunately, the Spanish conquistadors failed to find this Inca city in the 1500's and it was only rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham. We enjoyed good weather, but we were not prepared for the biting gnats--Arthur had a name for them. Sharon really got hit on her forearms. And our bug spray offered no protection. We wish we could have spent an entire day there to really experience what the Incas had created. But another 3 1/2 hour train journey awaited and the altitude took its toll on our stamina.
Saturday was filled with a bus tour of many sites outside of Cuzco. We were visiting the sacred valley of the Incas when I saw two messages on my Blackberry -- one from my sister Sally and the other from Charles. Given that, I was not surprised to finally learn that my father had passed away in the afternoon. We made arrangements to have his funeral upon our return the following Friday.
Sunday, we caught another morning flight back to Lima. We learned that the 45 minute flight takes roughly 20 hours by car or bus. We had a city tour by bus.
Monday, Arthur and I voted for a "free day" of no organized tours while Janet and Sharon took a tour of some more museums. We caught a cab ride to downtown for twelve soles ($4) and enjoyed the changing of the guard. Arthur wasn't feeling well so we headed back to the hotel after noon. Janet and Sharon had to do a little gift shopping in the afternoon and there was a farewell dinner in the evening.
Tuesday was our flight back to Miami and the end of our Gate 1 Travel experience. I think we all agreed that it was a very good value for the money.
On Wednesday we saw a little of Miami including Viscaya, downtown and South Beach. We had lunch at a very nice restaurant that Arthur had remembered and recommended.
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Janet's Wednesday Photos
Arthur's Wednesday Photos
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Janet's Thursday Photos
Arthur's Thursday Photos
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Janet's Friday Photos 1
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Janet's Saturday Photos 1
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Janet's Sunday Photos 1
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Arthur's Monday Photos 1
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Arthur's Wednesday Photos 1
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