The flight from Lima to Cusco was absolutely stunning - flew over the most beautiful mountain ranges, some with snow capped peaks (no idea what the flight from Quito to Lima was like because I slept!!).
I arrived just after lunch and my hostal picked me up - we drove into Cusco as school was finishing and there were kids everywhere!! I also have arrived in the middle of the biggest festival in Cusco - I miss the main day though (actually I'm kind of glad about this) so there have been parades everywhere.
This place is CRAZY. Firstly the city is set on a series of very steep hills. I swear someone flew up above Cusco and splattered a whole heap of paint in a few different colours and they went - right these are the roads. The ones in this colour will be just wide enough to fit two cars. The ones in this colour will be barely wide enough for one car, wih perhaps enough room for half a person either side. And the rest of them will have steps in them. Sometimes at the bottom, sometimes just at the end, sometimes in the middle, sometimes 2 or 3, sometimes flights (Luke do you remember that random village in Turkey we drove into that we were certain no other tourist had been - think a whole city of roads like that). And they are all cobblestones. And a certainity for getting lost!! I have spent most of my time here wandering around in circles getting lost...a thousand times more confusing than even Vienna. Had extreme trouble finding my hostal last night...was getting a bit panicky...but found it eventually! Also found the most fabulous boutique that does amazing one of designs...brought a dress, skirt and top....!
There are Llamas just wandering around (with people) and lots of Indigenous people dressed in traditional dress. Dogs are EVERYWHERE. When I went to bed last night it sounded as if I was sleeping next to a boarding kernal!!
At 3,300 metres (almost 11,000 feet) I am coping okay with the altitude thus far - have been on tablets since I left the Galapagos (Quito is at 2,850 mt - 9,350 feet) and am drinking lots of coca tea (which the guy at the hotel assured me on the first night was not cocaine - rather amusing!!). I had a slight headache in Quito but none so far in Cusco. Though I have had tingling sensations pretty much since I landed in Quito (disappeared when I was in the Galapagos) and still continuing (a bit like constant pins and needles in my hands and feet).
I am leaving on a 5 day adventure trek at 4am this morning and this trek takes me to well over 4,000 metres, so hopefully I will manage!! Have stocked up on coca toffee things, my tablets and some other substance you're supposed to chew.
Well that's it for now - I´m off to bed so I can get some sleep before I start my first day of my trek. Will report back after my trek!
