One of the most unique experiences is our overnight stay with an indigenous family who lives on the shore of Titicaca.

The family has 5 children and they are hard working & self- sustaining. They have their own animals that provide the occasional meat & daily dairy. They grow all of their own food & shared it with us & it was tasty. They set nets in Titicaca for fish.

We had beds / whew! Running water & toilets.No hot water- no heat. Honestly, I had about 6 blankets on my bed & I used every one!

There were about 20 of us who stayed with families & we were treated to traditional garb & dance lessons- fun!

Dinner,breakfast & lunch was with our family.

We always ate soup. And had rice, veggies, & potatoes. For breakfast / soup & fried bread – excellent! And for lunch we had quinoa, fried cheese& potatoes. We did not go hungry!

There was a soccer/futbol game – very fun!

The boat ride around Titicaca took us to the floating islands and then to the real island.

The natives do not have cars nor use animals to help with their work. They tend their agriculture with hand tools on steep terraced slopes. And they carry/transport goods up & down 545 steps to town center & their homes- at 12,500feet- that is a haul! These folks are fit.

Included are two photos of the town plaza.

Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world st 12,500 feet. Ho him.

Floating islands made of reefs- where people live – hmmm. A boat ride to the islands and an overnight stay with an indigenous family…okay, we are in! We bus from Arequipa to Titicaca. Puno- city on the shore is not amazing and we find a good restaurant where Jack indulges in the local delicacy – cuy.

Tomorrow is the boat ride & overnight stay….

Arequipa is Peru’s second largest city and it it fabulous! While less popular than Cusco, it is charming. Warmer. Bit lower elevation! It is surrounded by mountains and an active volcano. It is a geologist’s dream with volcanos, tremors and an earthquake history / all the while gorgeous. It is very walkable and you are always only a short walk to amazing historical buildings and architecture. Cozy cafes & restaurants. Cathedrals & cloistered convents. And throw in a llama museum! The streets are cobbled & narrow. Buildings are constructed with bricks of white volcanic ash. It had one of the largest cathedral’s of Peru & a fabulous main square which boasts beautiful fountains, palm trees, historic buildings & cafes. And, the locals market….the butchers do not waste a thing…yikes! The fruits & veggies are amazing – and Jack & I shared a fresh juice / amazing! And yes, this is a photo of the stand.

Cusco was the capital of the Incan Empire & that is evident today. The amazing stone building foundations remain. Huge boulders that fit together without any mortar & that are still strong after 600 years. The Incan religious beliefs of Pachymama. The Quechua language & dress. The charming narrow streets used today are a reminder of past generations.

The Spanish conquistadors left plazas, cathedrals & lovely buildings.

We enjoyed a magnificent dinner with cocktail service at our table, fabulous traditional Peruvian entrees of potata rellenos & steak, potatoes, roasted root veggies. Dessert was almond Helladic, brownie, & Chocolate syrup served in a bean – photos later.

We enjoyed a cocktail before dinner at a rooftop bar with 270 degree views of the city- photos to follow. And yes, we climbed over 250 steps to reach that destination – all at Cuscos elevation of 11000 feet- whew!

We enjoyed a performance of various Peruvian dances one eve at the cultural center. Both costumes & dances are part of weekly activities in the Peruvian villages – active today.

Greg, Jack & Hector were the intrepid warriors who summit – the peak of Huayna Pichu. It was wet & slippery & they succeeded!🎉

The Inca Trail was the road for the supply chain to Machu Picchu. It extended throughout the Incan Empire. The Inca Bridge adjacent to Machu Picchu is an amazing part of that trail . The trail is narrow. And it is a strategic decision to have a 400 foot drop at the bridge and the ability to remove the wooden logs when attackers threatened. It is an impressive site.