Ruta de Vino!

On the drive between Santiago and Valparaiso we visited two wineries... Casas del Bosque and Morande`

Casas del Bosque

The area looked so much like Napa... dry hills and verdant valley floor with vineyards and olive orchards.

We had a picnic at the vineyard edge,

wondering how the other half is doing tonight!





The owner of the wine tour company met up with us last night and showed us around Valparaiso.





We are now in our room at a B&B near the naval museum.  It overlooks the port and we can see our ship and the Holland America ship Veendam.  We will be checking out soon and head down the hill to board Star Princess.

Santiago

We got in late Tuesday and found our apartment.
We were on the 13th floor and Bonnie was on the 3rd...
and the staff spoke no English.

We managed to muddle our way around ...

computer lesson on our balcony

Wednesday was laundry and exploring a little.

Thursday we walked across the river next door to a sculpture park. 

More Machu Picchu

Our last post said it all... the place is absolutely incredible.
Before we went to bed on Sunday we had word from the manager of the B&B in Aguas Calientes that a train had finally made it through by 1800 that night.  So we knew trains would be running on Monday.  We did the same as the day before -- taxi to the train station & bus to Ollantaytambo, but this time we boarded the train.  Hooray!

It took about an hour and half to get there on the train... we followed the raging Urubamba River the whole time.  At kilometer 82 we could see the groups leaving for the 4-day trek to Machu Picchu along the Inka Trail.

We got to Aguas Caliente about 11, then got our tickets to MP and our bus tickets.  The adventure began as we went from 8000 feet to more than 8400 feet up a series of switchbacks on a narrow road.  About halfway up, we began to see the ruins.

We climbed up to the top of the ruins and then worked our way down.

We even made a friend...

We spent several hours exploring... then the clouds started moving back in and it began to rain.  By the time we got down to the bus station it was pouring.  We had dressed well and managed to stay dry.

Machu Picchu -- Wow!!!!

Machu Picchu Here We Come! (Almost)

We got to the train station in pouring rain this morning and took a two hour bus ride to Ollantaytambo to pick up the train... only to be told there was a "delay" with the train service.    So we wait... with three trainloads of passengers at a station designed to barely handle one!

Then came word that there had been a landslide on the tracks going towards Machu Picchu and they were trying to clear it.

It looked good when suddenly a train pulled in from the affected direction, but it was filled with people who had been hiking the Inca Trail (a 4-day trek that follows the original path to MP) and those who must have been stranded above the slide.

The porters quickly unloaded the tents, and support materials and the train was gone.

After another hour they finally cancelled train service for the day. We boarded the bus for the trip back.

At least it had stopped raining, so we got to see more on the way down... terraced ruins above Ollantaytambo and farms and cities along the river.

We were able to rebook for tomorrow, so here's hoping they got the slide cleared.

We only get one more chance.

We're in Peru

We flew from Miami to Santiago on Friday,
then turned around and flew north to Peru on Saturday.
After a brief stop in Lima's airport, we arrived in Cusco.











We are staying at Amaru Hostal -- an old colonial house in the San Blas neighborhood of Cusco.  The hostal is tucked into a narrow street on a hill, so there are several levels of rooms situated around flower-filled courtyards that attract hummingbirds like magnets.

This shot is us trying the local remedy for altitude sickness - coca tea.  (Cusco is at 11,000 feet, so it does take a little adjustment.)

We then ventured out down our street to the main square -- the Plaza de Armas.  On the block below us is an example of how the colonial city was built on top of the Inca city.  Incredible Inca mortarless masonry is topped by a Catholic church.

On the walkway between buildings, a local tour guide explains about the Incas.  (Behind him you can see some natives in their colorful dresses... everywhere around are natives descended from the Incas... their colorful hats and woven materials.)

Some even bring their llamas to work!

Plaza de Armas, Cuzco

Sunset Celebration

Key West celebrates sunset every day from Mallory Square.  We joined the throngs one evening and were rewarded with a great view and even the green flash.