Some years ago I had a silent auction for 2 Business Class tickets to Lima in Peru for only a few hundred dollars. I was very excited because I always wanted to see Machu Picchu and visit the Amazon jungle, and both are short trips from Lima raced on local airlines.I home to let Nancy know the good news. At first she was a little confused, "why exactly did you buy to Lima?" After explaining to her that these tickets were really just a nice way to get to Peru and that we only really as a base to Lima meet the Amazon and Machu Picchu, she was back on board. That is until we actually arrived in Lima and had to take our first flight to local Cuzco.Our "plane" landed and moved near the airport. After stopping a ladder was pushed against the side on wheels and a ramp was lowered from the back. The passengers were departing the back of the plane during boarding passengers (Nancy and I among them) were climbing the ladder to board the plane leveled. There was no visible security check does not even filling up as usual with U.S. flights. This flight was a stop and go. A very disturbing practice, especially for a semi-nervous flyer like myself.Once were on board the aircraft, the first thing we noticed that some interesting smells. It was obvious where this originated smells like we saw chickens and a goat on the plane. I never think I would be on board an aircraft with cattle. I knew immediately that this will be interesting ... if we survive ... Upon arriving at our seats, Nancy and I stowed our carry-on's and began to settle for our flight over the Andes to Cuzco tip. When I sat down in my seat, it felt as if the entire seat rocked back and then made a loud bang as it fell back into position. After a little investigation I found that my seat in fact, not bolted to the floor! Oh was so, the stud where it should be, there simply was not nuts attaching the chair to the tunnel. I guess this makes the exchange of seats easier if one of the goats on board has an "accident" in flight.My next surprise came when I packed for my seat belt ... only one end was actually attached to the seat! I think that was not so bad, because the seat was not attached to. After all, why would I want the false sense of security of being fixed to a seat that would only fly safely from the aircraft in the event of a nervous goat opening the door during the flight? When I mentioned these things before the flight attendant, she replied with a smile and walk on. Well, I wanted adventure ... Here we have go.On the positive side, the flight from Lima to Cuzco extremely turbulent was when we skimmed the tops of the Andes, the whole way. I have no idea why the pilot felt the need to fly so low. My only condition was that he wanted to smoke and to other polite to passengers, he felt it best to make a window it impossible to crack fly at higher altitudes. I mean, what could explain the enormous wind noise that seemed to come out of the cockpit? Finally, the pilot found a small gap between the mountains, in which he could make an emergency landing our plane and bring a merciful end of this flight. Turns out, the gap was the airport in Cuzco, and the crash was actually a normal landing ... I would never have guessed.Our travel agent met us at the airport and after a few minutes drive back to town, we arrived at our hotel. We stayed at the Hotel Los Andes de America, a best of all things Western. The hotel had been in a great location just a short walk from the main square and the hotel to sit in a large center courtyard and enjoy a meal or a cup of coffee before or after a day of adventure around the city.Upon arrival at our hotel We have a cup of coca tea from coca leaves were produced, while enjoying handed over the check-in process. Cuzco is situated at an altitude of 11000-12000 feet, depending on where you are and the statistics of your reading. The locals swear that coca tea is excellent for the prevention of altitude sickness. I'm not sure if there is any validity to that assertion, but I can say that neither Nancy or I had any problems with altitude sickness and we drank the tea.Nancy and I decided to Cuzco on foot and took it to a be safe and pleasant experience. We were in our early thirties, when we took the ride and in reasonable health, but also in that run around in this level you can still complicated pretty fast. If you think it could be a problem, take a taxi, they are quite numerous and quite reasonable priced.The city with old world charm and street vendors are occupied numerous. Bargains can be alpaca sweaters, hats, gloves, jewelry and art had. American dollars are accepted everywhere and the native Sol.Cuzco is the traditional starting point of the Inca Sun Trail, a 4-day hike through the Andes to the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu. Nancy and I were not adventurous enough to attempt the hike, so we decided that for the ride. At the time we were there, the train ride took about 2.5 hours and was excellent! It seems they have since added a shorter route, which takes only 90 minutes to Aguas Calientes to achieve, but if I do it again, I would take the longer route windy. The train winds its way through the Sacred Valley, passing small villages along the route. On the train troubadours and suppliers in traditional Peruvian garb are dressed. Time passes quickly and before you know it, you are in Aguas Calientes, a small village at the foot of Machu Picchu.This was the only part of the trip I did not care. Once you leave the train with people selling tourist junk are bombed. The road from the station to the buses that bring you the switchbacks to Machu Picchu is dotted with tourist trap junk sellers. Keep your wallet.Once aboard the bus, the journey to the top of Machu Picchu is pretty fast. As the bus drives through the narrow winding roads in the shearing-cut sides of the mountain, about the fact that in this city it was in my prime, almost everything that had needed to live to be performed by hand up this mountain. There was no water source at the top of the mountain. Water was either taken from the rain caught or carried by hand. Some food was on the terraces carved into the mountain sides grew, but much it was again, done by hand from the valley below.There is a hotel right next to Machu Picchu, the Sanctuary Lodge, if you have to stay there if you would like your reservations in advance of your trip. If you want to stay, gives you the rare opportunity to stay in Machu Picchu, after all the other tourists are taken away by the last shuttle bus will be granted. You will also have the opportunity to watch the sunrise over the ancient Inca city look to arrive before any other tourists. It's amazing to walk the city with so few people in your environment. Verily those who feel extremely breathtakingFor adventurous, there is aa way that leads to Huyan Picchu, a much smaller part of the city built even higher on a neighboring peak. The road is very steep and treacherous and should not try it with something else as an experienced climber. The view from the top of the track are none when you want to choose the trip to Machu Picchu trip.Our make was a unique adventure that I will remember forever. The second half of our trip to Peru was a week long adventure in the remote Amazon jungle, but that's a story for another time ...