The drive from Cusco to the Sacred Valley is truly spectacular. This is a beautiful country. Of course the weather is PERFECT. Blue skys, puffy clouds and a perfect temperature. I need to make an offering to the Inca Gods for this to continue, I know, I will support the local economy and buy some silver jewellry. That should work!

We stopped in a small town, sorry I cannot remember the name at this moment and dont have my books with me to look at. They had the real traditional market that they offer only on Sundays. This is more about the locals than the tourist although of course they had tourist items as tourists who are fortunate enough to be in the area on Sunday do come. The locals with all their vegetables was a target rich environment for the Lens Lads. I have been to many of these in different countries and always enjoy the authentic markets. Petropavslok, (spelling?)Siberia was a market that will always remain in my memory. The young girls were dressed in their best and this is a gathering place to meet and visit each other and where much of the courting seems to take place. You could tell the whole event as much of a social gathering for them as it was to sell their wares.

Of course Linda and I made the appropriate offering to the Inca Gods by supporting the local economy and as much as I am not really a shopper it is nice to help these people. They are very poor, and this is something you can do in a small way to help. There was a difference in the vendors here in the country than in the town of Cusco. Less aggressive and smiling all the time. The ones in Cusco speak more English and all have names like Martha Washington, or Tom Cruise. We have paid more than a few times to have pictures taken with the locals and hope some of those turn out well.

After the gang get back we are going to the Hacienda for lunch which I have been told is a wonderful place.

The tour is going very smoothly, K&D put this together for us and we really did not know what we were going to be doing until the last minute but they did a great job. We did get a reduced rate for the trip but then you have to wait until a few weeks before on a space available basis to make any plans at all. You do your air, set the dates and then just cross your fingers it all works out. We did not get our itinerary until about four days before we left. However, we have all the best places and experiences to enjoy and a great guide who is with us for the whole trip.

The Monasterio by the way Marcie has a great atmosphere with the Monastery music playing softly in the background. The rooms are all different. Linda and Ron ended up with a smaller room but they still thought it was nice. Ours was larger. They are not elaborate by any means but clean and comfortable. They have no air conditioning and at first it was hot but it really cools down at night so it was fine.

The altitude issue we did feel but not too bad. Walking is harder and you find yourself puffing when normally you would not even be breathing hard. All of us felt it at one time or another. We all got a slight headache but took asprin and we were fine. You are at about 11,000 feet at Cusco. Machu Pichhu is lower. For a cost of $25 they can pump oxygen into the room at the Monasterio. We did not do that but we woke up about 4.00am with a headache. This is quite common as your body is not really getting enough oxygen. We spend one more night there and may try the oxygen this time, although by then we will be more used to the altitude. I think if I had to do it again I would probably pay the $25 and see if that made a difference. The paperwork I read said a nights sleep in a room filled with oxygen really helps. Logic tells me you just have to adjust, I dont know which is right. Anyone else done this before with or without the extra oxygen? ONLY the Monasterio has the oxygen option.

The tour guide told me they normally pick people up and take them to the Sacred Valley first as it is much lower, I think she said 9,000 feet. Then go to Machu Picchu and finish up in the Cusco area when you have adjusted more to the altitude. I think that is a good idea.

Okay off to work and check emails now. May be back to you after the Hiram Bingham train and Machu Picchu.