Ayucucho

We flew into this city from Lima and will take a bus up to Chuschi which is over 9000 ft high. This city is famous in Peru. The peruvians conquered the Spanish here to win independence. In the 1980s and 1990s the Shining Path movement started here which eventually ended up murdering 90,000 people. Also in the 1980s
Pope John Paul II came here to be with the poorest people in Peru. No American influences here and very few gringos.

Celebrating the feast of St Michael outside of Church

The bishops house

bread store  in Ayuchucho

bus station office where we catch the four hour bus to the altiplano

In Lima still

We are in Lima today. Took a long city bus ride to see the real neighborhoods. We are at an internet cafe that is very common. Early tomorrow we fly out. The food is good. We are staying at the convent of the sisters of St . Joseph...they have missions all over the world but none in US.

Hasta luego.

Cusco to Lima

We left the Inca capital today to return to the Peruvian capital. Cusco is a great place that thrives on the turisticos. Tourists are there either for the archeological sites or outdoor adventures. Tomorrow we head to the remote part of our trip outside Ayuchucho. We will be there until 10\7.
The other half of group, Tom, Mary and Patrick headed north today to the coastal city of Piura and will also spend time in the Andes in villages there that the sisters have missions.

Guess where in the world this airport is

A callejon in Cusco. Many like this

La Plaza de San Francisco in Cusco

Pisac in the Sacred Valley

Waiting to give flowers to bride and groom

Wedding musicians

selling fruits and vegetables in Pisac market

Today we went to Pisac....an hour from Cusco in the Sacred Valley. This is a Quechua Indian village that happens to have a big market on Sunday. We went to mass at the mission and there were two weddings....very colorful as you see.

The Old Macchu Picchu

Saturday: Took the   train to Macchu Picchu ...the old  holy city of the Incas. It is a very far place to get to but worth the trip. Not a place for the out of shape ...some people had to turn back because of the steepness and thin air. It cost a lot of money to get here and most people traveling on train from around the world have a lot. A lot of vacation dropping was heard on train but there is a wish to see people´s culture stay intact.
We are back in Cusco tonight.

old city

the sacred rock(resembles mountain behind)

Cusco - The Inca capital

It is nice to get to Cuscso even though the altidude gives some of us headaches. The center of the inca world with many archeological ruins from over 1000 years ago. Many outdoor things also ....backpack, rafting, horses.
The coca tea and leaves help with the altitude ....the city is 11,000 feet up...twice as high as Denver. A beautiful city with no Mc Donalds or burger king.. Yes.

Native women and child

The new Lima

In front of natonal palace

Our Lady of the Rosary- statue 500 yrs old

Today we are in Lima. The difference between four years ago is very dramatic. It is a city on the upswing economically with much energy and new construction. More American influence with many well know fast food and stores.

Los Viajeros---The Travelers

Leo

 

Jan

Tom

Mary

 

Patrick

On our way

Leaving Billings at 6am...to Denver then Miami and then Lima. We are scheduled to get to Lima around 9pm