Day #6 - Cusco

Day six was one that no one wanted to get up early, so we didn't.  It was a long night, so it was good that our tour of the city didn't start until 2pm.  So we got ourselves out to take in a little of the city center and get some hot chocolate at Starbucks, because at this point the boys needed a little of the familiar.  We just enjoyed the time and took it all in.  Then we decided to head back to the hotel (only 2 blocks away) and drop Dallin off before lunch because Dallin began to feel a little under the weather.  After lunch the plan was that all of us would go on the official Cusco tour, but the family was dropping off like flies, so it ended up being three of us on the city tour.  Getting a bit sick is one of the things Peru often offers freely.

One of the local preschools was having a little parade around the square.  Easton was impressed.

It was a long, amazing week, but by this last day it was definitely showing.

Our beautiful hostel in Cusco.

The tour was very good and we got to see a lot of things.  Mason, Drew, and I all really enjoyed it and I was very happy to see that Mason and Drew were really into it (at least until the last 45 minutes, but by then even I was pretty tired and my thoughts were wandering too).  

The tour started at the cathedral, which we were not allowed to take pictures of the inside, but with it's three chapels and amazing art work was incredible.  Then we walked to an Inca ruin that the Spanish actually built a cathedral on top of, but in recent history much of it has been uncovered.

This is the second cathedral we went to, which was built over a whole complex of Inca temples called Qorikancha.  The Inca rooms were dedicated to different divinites -Sun, Moon, Stars, Lighteneing, Mother Earth, Rainbow, etc.

See how the Spanish just built right on top of the Inca temple?

The cathedral is built right over the Inca foundation, which you can see in this picture of the outside.

This is the next stop.  Our kids loved saying this national park.  It sounds like "Sexy Woman" when said, it cracked the boys up.  It was the place of the royal house of the sun.  It was built on two hills with a large flat plain in the middle which they used for festivals and most likely military parades.

The stones here weighed on average 80 tons (but many were over 120 tons).  And moved from 4-7 km away.

A lot of this ruin used the natural stones already there.

The view of Cusco from one of the hills.

Stop three was Tambomachay was a place of water.  It has clean water from underground.  Here they gathered the water for irrigation purposes.  They said they also used it as a religious place dedicated to water.

Along the way they had all these interesting trees.  And Drew took several pictures, so thought I would share a couple of his pics.

They talked about the differences in terrace building and temple building.  Though both were amazing architecture, the temples were build for looks, the terraces for function.

You can see the irrigation still in use today.

Stop four was actually a drive by as, it was getting very dark and not to mention cold. But it was Puka Pukara, meaning Red Fort.  It was a stop on the Inca Trail. 

Stop Five was Q'enqo which was really interesting.  It was at one time covered by landslides and then abandoned by the Incas, but an archaeologist searched and found it.  It had a cave with an alter in it for the priests to use.  And we got one picture and then at our very last stop on our very last night our battery went dead and we left it at that.

This semi-circle wall had seats in it for the priests and high officals to sit in surrounding an outdoor alter.  And our last photo!

Day #5 Machu Picchu and another train

Day five started a little later than the rest of the week.  We knew everyone was getting tired, so we took the morning a little slower and made our way up to Machu Picchu to take pictures and just walk around at our own pace to see what we wanted.  We walked up to the top where the guard shack is located.  It was a stop on the Inca trail.  Then we took a short hike to the Inca bridge.  It was a 40 minute walk to the bridge and back.  And well worth the little hike.  Plus it was very doable for a 4 year old.  And we all loved the things to see along the way.  After the hike we just wandered and looked and took more pictures. After close to 3 hours it started to sprinkle.  We debated to stay or go and decided we would hop on the bus back down to Aguas Calientes.

The first day there weren't a lot of clouds after 10am or so, but this day there were clouds drifting around most of the time we were there.  We loved that we got to see these two different days.

Easton wasn't looking at the camera at all..until...the llamas!  After that, all was well.

To the left and back is the Inca bridge.

So glad we did that...we found a place to eat lunch and as we were sitting there, the rain started to come down in buckets.  So we had a nice long lunch, went to the market to look around for awhile, and then it was time to board the train again to head up to Cusco.  It was fairly uneventful, until the last 5 minutes when Easton woke up saying his stomach hurt. Lucky for us, I kind of thought he might throw up, so we got a bag, were he threw up with no mess.  Then we got our stuff and headed to the entrance of the train station and got ourselves a taxi for the 30 minute drive to our hotel.

And here is where another miracle begins for our family.

We loaded up into the taxi.  Mark and Easton in the front seat and the rest of us in the back (in South America there is a different view of fitting into a car and at this point we took what we could).  So we had gotten another barf bag, just in case, so Mark had it, but when Easton threw up the second time in the taxi, it was really dark and all did not end well.  So the taxi pulled over, and Mark, Easton, and I got out of the car.  We cleaned up as best as possible and then got back in and went to the hotel.  Unfortunately I had opened the backpack in the car to get wipes out and stuff and in the process a few things fell out, I thought I had gotten everything, but when we got to the hotel, I realized I had everything, but Mark's wallet.  So we worried, we cancelled cards, worried some more, said many prayers.  But really we figured it was gone.  We had no idea what the number or company of the taxi was, it was late, dark, and we had a sick kid.  So we prayed we had an honest taxi driver.  And first thing in the morning, our honest taxi driver showed up at our hotel.  A miracle, almost unheard of, thank you! thank you!  taxi driver and God for hearing our prayers.

Day #4 - Part II

After all our hikes, we met back together to have lunch and then on to our tour of Machu Picchu.  We learned a lot about this amazing place.  Did you know that more than 50% of the construction of this place is underground?  Foundations, water canals, etc. account for this.  It probably took years of planning for this architectural achievement.  The city was more than likely a religious and educational center for the Incas.  The Incas were so thoughtful in there building, they always made sure religious temples had light shining through windows onto certain places one day a year (and usually for a short period, at Ollantaytambo it is 18 minutes) - the winter solstice.  It was important to there religion so they planned everything around these little details.  We really enjoyed all the learning we did.  Though Easton's main concern was how many llamas we could see.  Good thing there wasn't a shortage!

We got to see one one of our family's good friends while there.   It happened that they were there the same two days we were.  How cool is that?  

These are "mirrors" to watch the skies, astronomy was a big deal to the Incas.

For pretty much the whole trip Mason's responsibility was this water bottle hip holder.  He did not complain once, every morning he just put it on and kept track of it and those two water bottles he is holding.  Mark and Mason were also the bag carriers.  We moved around a lot, so I had the backpack and they took the two duffel bags.  Dallin and Drew did their part too.  We worked pretty well together considering how much it took to make sure this family of six was all together.  You have to know that we were a novelty on this trip.  There weren't a lot of children, especially Easton's age and definitely not a lot of big families.  I was a pretty proud mom of these boys and how well they did.  It was tiring, we hiked, we walked, we were in the high altitude, and they did it.  

So for our own memories I added this.  This is when Mason bravely saved the lens cap cover that went overboard.  

In the rainy season, the king's body was brought here from Cusco to be kept  in this open tomb (they believed death wasn't an end, but a beginning to a new life so they would keep the kings bodies).  They would make a blanket of bat's wings to cover the body with.

Life is now complete...we have had a family picture with a llama.

Day #4 Part I - Waynapicchu Trail

There is a trail at Machu Picchu which they allow 400 people per day to ascend (and of course descend, which was a bit nerve racking) to the top of a mountain over looking Machu Picchu.  It is where the high priest lived and they stored much of the dried plants they used for medicinal purposes.  It involves a lot of stairs straight up and a lot of stairs straight down.  It is not for the faint of heart or the very young.  Luckily for us there are two different time slots 7am and 10am.  So Mark took Mason and Dallin at 7am and then Drew, Easton, and I met them at the bottom so that at 10am Drew and I could have our turn.  It was hard and amazing and the views, I can't even describe the views.  This picture shows the mountain we climbed.  So when looking at this picture, on the left of the mountain is where the trail is carved into the mountain.

Team Mark, Mason, and Dallin 

 A little story.  We were not sure if Drew would be able to do this hike.  So after Mark came down we met them at the trail head to discuss if Drew would be able to do this.  Mark said he would definitely be able to do this.  He just wanted to remind Drew of how serious the dangers on the trail could be.  Nothing unusual as we had discussed this with all the boys several times in preparation for our trip.  And as we had discussed when going up hill the parent is behind, when going down hill the parent is in front.  So when Drew and I came down, I heard what happened on Mark's trip.  We very nearly had a catastrophe with Dallin falling down some extremely steep and long set of stairs.  There is a picture of the stairs below.  Miracle of miracles Mark caught Dallin and then did not go down himself.  It is a good thing they told me after.  I would never have gone with Drew who did amazing and listened and was cautious and we had a wonderful time.  Angels were watching over Dallin.  Interestingly enough Mark and I both knew that the kid who has the least amount of discretion when on cliffs is Dallin, guess it applies to stairs too.  

This one is a funny joke picture. 

This is not.  It is Mark actually capturing Dallin slipping, though he caught himself.  Not quite as funny to the mom. 

Team Laura and Drew

We think alike.   See the one of Mark and  Dallin above.  

These are the stairs Dallin went face first falling down.  It really is a blessing and miracle he didn't get seriously injured.  Our Heavenly Father was watching out for our family.

At the top.  Can you see that little black spot in the middle, just above the rock?  It is a butterfly, there were so many up there.  It was beautiful.

This made my heart beat just a bit faster.  But the views!!!

We did it!!! 

Thanks Easton for being a champ and cheering us on.

What an incredible opportunity to be up there and see this amazing earth!