Back in the States

Back in Atlanta after almost leaving my duty free Pisco at the gate and bearly escaping customs with a few coca leaves in my bag!  Southern food, something fried or smothered in BBQ sauce is on the agenda.

Lima - Bikes and Ceviche

 After an incredible descent through the Andes and into the desert we made it to Lima and headed straight for the Inka Frog where we would stay for 3 nights.  Big Lima is much, much different than Cusco but we enjoyed the new museums, ocean views and ceviche.  Highlights were a bike tour of the city and petting a hairless dog, but we were all looking forward to our flight home and end to an incredible year.

Goodbye Cusco

We hopped on an an overnight bus to Lima, our last capital city in the 6 countries visited on this trip.  21 hours over and down the Andes and then across the sand to the big city.  We are all sad to leave but also ready.  In less than a week we will be back in the states, enjoying favorite foods and the summer heat.

Top Ten Lists for Cusco - Mike



 1. The Wanchac Market
2. Parades and Street Dances
3. Llamas & Alpacas
4. Tamale Ladies
5. 3 Cylinder mini taxis
6. The Andes
7. Adobe Homes
8. Weavers & Textiles
9. Coca tea
10. Potato fields & Terraces

Helen's Top Ten List for Cusco




 1. Inka Kola
2. Lomo Saltado
3. Ausangate Bilingual School
4. Futbol Games
5. Machu Pichu
6. Chuwa Restaurant
7. Killia, Eilleen, Alejandra S., Xiara, Arianna, Alejandra M., Natalia, Carmen & Mar
8. Choquequirao
9. Papas a la Huancaina
10. Urpicha

Cusco, Top Ten by Meghan



 1. Majo, Maijo and Mikaela
2. Profesores Wilson & Karina
3. My pink room
4. Winn & Wow
5. Machu Picchu
6. The Plaza at night
7. Felipa
8. Cuy (guinea pig)
9. Papas rellenas
10. School busses

Debby's Top Ten List



 1)  Mantay Babies, Lily - the nurse, and the Mamas
2) South American Explorers Club staff and fellow traveling members
3) Living Inca/Quechua history - festivals, buildings, dances, people
4) New friends - the Leonard-Rose's, Filipa and family, Eric & Elizabeth, Celine, the crew at Olly.
5) Busy sidewalks at all hours of the day and night - pedestrians
6) Eating lunch out almost every day - 3 course meal for s/4.80 ($1.75) @ Corazon del Maiz
7) Aji de gallina, Papas a la Huancaina, Chicha Morada, Inca Cola, Coca Tea, Pisco Sours, Papas rellenos, Cuzquena Cerveza
8) Not having to do my own laundry - s/3.50 per kilo ($1.28/kilo) washed, dried and folded
9) Just happening upon festivals on the Plaza de Armas and in the streets
10) Living in the beautiful Andes - breathtaking sunrises, gorgeous blue sky days, rooftop drinks at Marcelo Batata to watch the sunset and lights come on in the city