Off to Lima, Peru and the Charming Little Town of Cusco

So the flight from Buenos Aires to Lima was actually at 4.00AM ... we had to leave our hotel at 1.00AM. Arrgghhhhh ... remind me never again to take choose such flights because it was sheer mental and physical torture.

Still it was a full flight, look at the number of people waiting to board this flight to Lima.

So we reached Lima international airport at around 0700hrs (I think) and had to wait until 1600hrs for our connecting flight from Lima to Cusco. With so much time to kill at Lima International airport - I was SO bored. It must be said that none of the international airports in Rio, Buenos Aires or Lima offer free wifi connection. In times like these, THANK GOD for Starbucks is all I'm gonna say.

Of course, there are some on a tight budget. Check out this lady traveller who stood there for a good hour enjoying the free wifi but did not consume the overpriced Starbucks. Wished I have her self-control actually.

Inside Lima International Airport - first floor. Don't get your money changed here, get it changed at CUSCO town money changers (there are loads), rates were so much better ... lesson learned.

 You had to walk a short distance outside of the Airport to get into check-in area ... interesting  ....

Here we checked into our connecting flight to CUSCO via STAR PERU airline ....

Here we go ...comes the next leg of my tour - I was extremely excited !

STAR PERU aircraft - it's a very small, compact plane ... for short distances I suppose ...

The aerial sights from LIMA to CUSCO were breathtaking (and scary). I looked down and all I could see were miles and miles of mountains and gorges. And the color - not green but all the way terracotta. It did occurred to me that we were on a very tiny plane *nervous* ...

They served a very fragrant cuppa joe - which helped me tremendously ...

Look down ....

And look ....! I see CUSCO town now !

Landed at CUSCO.

Our quaint boutique hotel at CUSCO - The MAMASARA Inn ... brrrrr .... REALLY REALLY COLD!!! No heater and weather was so cold even with three layers on ....

Breakfast area at the MAMASARA Inn ...

Sorry, no updates after checking into the hotel on that day because I slept immediately without dinner. I was literally so exhausted. You can order food for dinner via the reception without walking out, it will not be from the kitchen but from outside restaurants. I think the kitchen only serves at breakfast times.

So onto the next day - bright and early. We decided to walk from our hotel to the main square area of Cusco town called Plaza de Armas. My dream is starting to come true now and I was really excited to get to know the history and culture of the Incans.

So there I was posing with the great Pachacutec statue at the main square - the ninth ruler of the Incan state (1438-1470) that expanded the Incan empire to the extent that it covered almost all of western South America. Under his rule, he developed Cusco from a simple chiefdom to THE great Incan empire. The local language is Quechua and Pachacutec literally means " he who shakes the earth".

Walking the streets of Cusco ... Starbucks world dominion is everywhere apparently ...

Quinoa - local food here which has now gained worldwide fame ...

The local artist's impression of the history of Incan empire ...

We spent the day exploring the town of Cusco, and here we are at the Centro Artesanal Cusco, at the end of Avenida El Sol - this is a great place for shopping all kinds of local trinkets and souvenirs.

Just outside the Centro ...

Local stalls at the Centro selling colorful bags and alpaca capes ...

Trinkets galore ...

Inside the Centro consisted of small stalls with every kind of localsouvenirs/ gifts imaginable ...

The canteen area ... I could not resist a snap of the Peruvians in their national outfits ...

After souvenir shopping ... it was back at MAMASARA ...at every floor of the Inn, you can help yourself to cocoa tea leaves with hot water that will ward off alttitude sickness...

Relaxx ... what a lovely day spent at Cusco ...