We arrived late on Monday and stayed at the Wyndham Hotel a block from the airport. Luckily, planes stop coming in around 11 pm, otherwise it would have been like trying to sleep on the runway. The next morning we flew into Cusco to experience what 11000 ft feels like. We get winded fast climbing up the steep narrow streets of Cusco and we feel a little compression on our heads but that’s all for now.
We ran some errands in the afternoon (Sim card, bank, etc). We stopped by a bakery called El Buen Pastor where the profits provide a home for 50 neglected young girls. In addition to shelter they also provide them with an education and skills training, etc. I’m sure we’ll be back.
We are staying at a cool little hotel called Hotel Terra Viva San Blas. Everyone here is extremely nice. We should have a nice couple of days here as we get acclimated to the altitude. They have a beautiful garden, we just hope it’s warm enough to sit outside.
Traffic here is insane. Most sidewalks can only fit one person. The only thing between us and the cars’ sideview mirrors seem to be about 8 inches. Love those small narrow streets though. So much fun to walk even if it’s difficult breathing.
Toughest part so far is having to abstain from alcohol to avoid getting altitude sickness. There’s a big glass of wine waiting for us when this is all over!
