Sunday, September 6, 2009

Cusco


Karen and I had decided to ask the president if we could go somewhere out of Lima for a couple of days where we could see more of Peru and see the sun and stars.
Here we see a statue of the last great Inca chief as you enter into Cusco.




Sister Tyler suggested that we go with the President on his next trip to Abancay. Later the president called us up and said why don't you go on Wednesday and I will pick you up on Friday to go to Abancay.


So on Wednesday Javier Since picked us up at the Cusco airport and took us to a very nice hotel Jose Antonio. Our room was on the 5th floor. Some of these pictures were taken from our hotel window and others from the top of Cusco.


Cusco is 10,800 feet in elevation and the oldest city in South America. We adapted very well to the altitude and didn't have any problems.


After dropping our luggage off at the hotel, Javier took us to Jack's Restaurant that sister Elmer liked to go eat at.



In the afternoon Javier took us up above the city and in to the country. It is the end of winter and though they get over 200 inches of rain in Cusco things are very dry. In the summer everything will be very green. In the pictures above you see a roof-top ornament of a bull and a cow yoked together. You can see this on most of the homes. It depicts a couple evenly yoked together to strengthen the family in a home. Notice how the hills are terraced for farming and growing their crops.


These pictures are at the start of the Sacred Valley.



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Inka Shops

Inka Shops
There are hundreds and hundreds of little vendors selling their wares from clothing, dolls, purses, jewelry etc. We didn't buy anything but got a good idea of some of the things that they have.

Highway

Highway
One of many highways in Lima. This is Avenida Arequipa that runs north and south. Maybe 9-10 blocks from our apartment. During rush hour this road will be packed.

Highway

Highway
Another highway running thru Lima.

Tall buildings

Tall buildings
This is a look of San Isidro where we live and the mission office.

Miraflores from the air

Miraflores from the air
On our P-day we went to Miraflores and ate at a fantastic restaurant just above the cliff. The tall building in the background is the Marriott hotel. The name of the restaurant was Mangos. It was buffet.

Pacific Ocean

Pacific Ocean
Looking down about 500-600 feet from the Mangos restaurant to the ocean