#eidently

 Several years ago, I won a silent auction for two business class tickets to Lima, Peru for a couple of hundred dollars. I was very excited because I had always wanted to see Machu Picchu and visit the Amazon jungle, and both are short distances from Lima to local airlines.I ran home to Nancy to know the good news. At first she was a bit 'confused, "why did you buy your tickets to Lima?" After explaining to her that these tickets were really just a nice way to get to Peru and we would really only be used as Lima base hit to the Amazon and Machu Picchu she was back on board. That is until they actually arrived in Lima and had to take our first domestic flight to Cuzco.Our "plane" landed and stopped near the airport. After the arrest, a ladder with wheels was pushed against the wall and a ramp was lowered from behind. Departing passengers were transported from the rear of the plane while passengers boarding (Nancy and I among them) were climbing the ladder to board the plane. There was no apparent security and control even the supply of fuel, as is customary with the flights in the United States. This flight was a stop and go. A practice very disturbing especially for a semi-nervous flyer like myself.Once on board the plane, the first thing we noticed were some interesting smells. E 'immediately clear where those smells orginated as we have seen chickens and a goat on the plane. I did not think I would have been on board a plane with the cattle. I immediately knew that this would be interesting ... if we survive ... Upon arrival at our seats, Nancy and I have placed our hand luggage and began to settle in for our flight over the Andes to Cuzco direct. When I sat in my place, he felt as if the seat rocked back and then made a loud noise as it fell into place. After investigation I discovered that my child seat was not actually bolted to the floor! Oh, sure, the stallion was there where it should be, there were simply not nuts to the chair to the studs. I suppose this makes it easier when swapping seats on board one of the goats has an "accident" in flight.My next surprise came when I got to my seat belt ... one end was actually attached to the seat! I believe this was not so bad since the seat was not attached to anything. After all, why would I want the false sense of security to be firmly secured a seat that would just fly out of the plane in case of a goat nervous opening the door in mid flight? When I said these things to the pre-flight hostess, he said, smiling and walking over. Well, I wanted the adventure ... here go.On positive side, the flight from Lima to Cuzco was extremely turbulent as we skimmed the tops of the Andes all the way home. I have no idea why the driver felt the need to fly so low. My assumption was just that he wanted to smoke and to be courteous to other passengers, it felt better to break a window, making it impossible to fly at a higher rate. I mean what else could explain the tremendous sound of the wind seemed to come from the cockpit? Eventually, the pilot found a small crack in the mountains where he could crash landing our plane and bring a merciful end of this flight. It turns out that the crack was the airport of Cuzco, and the crash was actually a normal landing ... I never guessed.Our travel agent we met at the airport and just minutes after a ride back to town we arrived at our hotel. We stayed at the Hotel Los Andes de America, a Best Western of all things. The hotel was in an ideal location, just steps from the main square and the hotel had a large central courtyard to sit and enjoy a meal or a cup of coffee before or after a day of adventures around the arrival city . Upon our hotel, we were handed a cup of coca tea, made with coca leaves, to enjoy during check-in. Cuzco is at an altitude between 11,000 and 12,000 feet, depending on where you are and whose statistics you read. The locals swear that coca tea is excellent to prevent altitude sickness. I do not know if there is any validity to that statement, but I can say that neither Nancy or I had no problem with altitude sickness and we made tea.Nancy drink and I chose to walk around Cuzco and found it to be a safe and enjoyable. We were in our early thirties, when we took the trip and in reasonable health, but also that, walking around that altitude you can still get out of breath very quickly. If you think it could be a problem, take a taxi, they are quite numerous and quite reasonable priced.The city is full of old world charm and street vendors are numerous. Bargains can be had on alpaca sweaters, hats, gloves, art and jewelry. U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere as the native Sol.Cuzco is the traditional starting point of the Sun Inca Trail, a 4 days hiking through the Andes to the Inca city of Machu Picchu. Nancy and I were not adventurous enough to groped the tour so we opted for the train journey. At that time we were there, the train journey took about 2.5 hours and was excellent! It seems that since then they have added a shorter path that requires only 90 minutes to reach Aguas Calientes, but if I had to do it again, I would still take more and more windy. Winds train is the way through the Sacred Valley, passing through small villages along the road. On the train troubadours and vendors are dressed in traditional Peruvian dress. Time passes quickly, and before you know you're in Aguas Calientes, a small village at the foot of Machu Picchu.This part of the trip was that I do not care. As soon as you exit the train was bombarded by people selling tourist trinkets. The route by train to the bus that takes you up the switchbacks to Machu Picchu is lined with tourist trap junk suppliers. Keep your wallet.Once on board the bus, the journey to the summit of Machu Picchu is quite fast. As the bus travels along the narrow switchbacks carved into the sides of the mountain cut, think about the fact that when this city was in its first, almost all the necessities of life had to be carried by hand on this mountain. There was no water source at the top of the mountain. The water was captured or by rain or carried by hand. Po 'food was grown on terraces cut into the side of the mountain, but most of it was, again, carried by hand from the valley is below.There a hotel near Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge if you want to stay there is necessary to make reservations well in advance of your trip. If you do stay there you will be offered the rare opportunity to stay at Machu Picchu after all the other tourists are carried away with the last shuttle. You will also have the opportunity to see the sunrise over the ancient Inca city before any other tourists arrive. It 'amazing to wander through the city with so few others around. BreathtakingFor those who really feel very adventurous, there is a track that leads to Huyana Picchu, a much smaller portion of the city was built even higher than an adjacent peak. The trail is very steep and treacherous and should not be attempted by experienced hikers, but nothing. The view from the top of the track are unmatched, if you choose to make the trip to Machu Picchu trip.Our was once in a lifetime adventure that I will remember forever. The second half of our trip to Peru was an adventure long week in the remote Amazon jungle, but that is a story for another time ...