After another week of classes and our typical routine of chilling in cafes, we decided to tackle the highest mountain in the Cusco Valley at 4,600m. This peak would offer a challenging ascent that would afford amazing views of Cusco and the Sacred Valley. We planned our trip with Norman and opted for an early start to beat any incoming afternoon weather and also to allow enough time to complete the 1,400m ascent. It took about 3.5 hours to reach the main ridge followed by an intense but short traverse to the main peak. Considering our lazy activities during the week, we did quite well as far as physical strength. The vistas from the top were absolutely breath taking and well worth the journey.
From the peak we spotted a village in the opposite direction from which we had started that had a more reasonable descent leading towards it... so we chose our path from the birds view and headed that way hoping that a bus could take us back to Cusco. We made it to the very quiet village and found a small tienda selling cold beer. We decided to sit back and enjoy our refreshments while watching pigs and locals meander past us on the road. After we polished off our Cusqueña beers we flagged down a bus, squished our way in, and rode back ¨home¨to Cusco.
We spent our Sunday riding on random bus routes in an attempt to arrive at the Inca ruins in Tipón. We did eventually arrive at our desired destination, but by then we only had enough energy to eat asap. While our stomachs craved a hamburger (Cullen) and salad (Melissa), we were surprised and chagrined to find out that every eatery in town only offered the local specialty... cuy del horno (roasted guinea pig). We couldn´t muster up the courage to try the ¨delicacy¨this time, because they were served with heads and paws included, belly up as if in surrender. We had, instead, roasted gallina (rooster) which is like pollo but a lot more chewy... and washed it down with some more Cusqueña cerveza. After another random bus ride home and a walk to get us back on route, we are here in an internet cafe surrounded by gamers (Andy, you would love it- it´s an online game hub and everyone sounds like they´re in an intense duel of some sort... lots of screaming in Spanish...) and as another weekend comes to an end we are definitely thinking of all of you at home. Lots of love from both of us! M&C
5 comments:
I went to Raleys the other day and they said they could special order guinea pig for you when, you get home, or you and I can build a cage in the backyard and raise them!!! Had up to 3 feet of new snow in the mountains this weekend and Mom and I are hitting the slopes today. I am not working this week and Wayne will be here Thurs for four days of skiing Love Muy Grande D
Cool!
I'm guessing they were probably all playing World of Warcraft or maybe even Starcraft... I wonder.
Wow, it does look like the yellow brick road! So beautiful. We are all talking about the guinea pig. Yuck. Chris H. said he got an e-mail from you. Nice. We will be in LA this weekend can't wait to hear about your next adventure. Love Madre Oh I see Big D has graduated to Muy Grande D :) So cute. mominfallon
Thanks for writing this.
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