Cusco, Peru

We departed Lima on Taca Airlines (which we loved because it’s in the Star Alliance so we were upgraded to first class due to Hillary’s status on United).  Flying into Cusco was odd: a one hour flight from sea level to 11,000 feet, so we essentially climbed the entire flight.  Hello altitude sickness!  (We were actually fine though since we took Diamox).  Cusco is steeped with history: it’s the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city with massive Incan built walls and cobblestone streets.  There was a definite tourist vibe in the Plaza de Armas (most tourists prepping for their trek up to Machu Picchu), but overall the city still maintained its local charm.  First impressions: limited breathable air, much slower pace than Lima, archeologist’s dream, wild swings in temp from 30 at night to 75 in the day with bone-dry air and intense sunlight.  We stayed at a nice hostel right in the center of town; oh yeah, many more people speak English in Cusco because it’s so focused on tourism, gracias!  P.S. We’re only on our fourth full day in Peru and Ken already has diarrhea, yikes, was it the water?  We’ll never know.