Cusco City Tour (Day 2)

 Work in progress to update ;)

Cusco Day 1

Left NY Thursday night to Lima, seamless transfer to flight to Cusco. Arrived Friday August 3 mid morning and after what was a surprisingly easy transfer to the Hotel we (or at least I was since I had done precious little research) were stunned by the beauty of the JW Marriott. The hotel was built in an old  Franciscan monastery about 100 meters from the main square and cathedral. 

After a quick and delicious lunch (Peruvian beef skewers and a trio of empanadas) we headed into Cusco in search of some gifts for Nicola and MIL. There is quite obviously a central store somewhere in Cusco from where all of the other smaller shops get all of their merchandise. Whether this is by decree or by some mad economic force that I will never understand, the upshot of it is 90 percent of the shops sell the same damn thing. As a result the only way to shops for tourists trinkets is to go into as many shops as you can and find a vendor you like then buy the thing you first found. It was a good couple of hours walking which helped us to acclimatize to the altitude. 

Dinner that night was exceptional at Chicha, delicious ceviche and a beef stir fry in an amazing setting.  Thankfully reservation at 6 so bed by 9 after the obligatory Pisco Sour in the stunning hotel bar........ Room piped with oxygen to making sleeping at that altitude easier.

Peru here we come

With some trepidation we have set off to Peru. Trepidation leaving my parents behind with all that is going on and also the fact that the altitude might kick our butts.

Latam treated us pretty well in business class - well Shorty’s seat initially would not budge, but some brut force from the steward got it flat, then it was flat or upright nothing in between. Thankfully was an overnight flight and just what was needed anyway.

Landed in Lima where we had been told to allow 3-4 hours to clear customs, get our bags and recheck in - I think it took us about a half hour. Was quite a smooth system to be perfectly honest.

Desayuno with eggs, bacon and toast and a double espresso for Shorty. Then off to clear domestic security - or so we thought....... One line everyone in it, then suddenly pandemonium..... The one line everyone was in was both international and domestic security. Became every man and woman for their dog to get into the domestic line, I think we managed to skip past 30-40 people. But the Peruvian women are pushy wee things. I feel like a giant at the moment.

Here we are now sitting at the gate waiting for our flight to Cusco, will it take off on time, will our bags arrive, only time will tell.

It did take off on time (pretty much). Total chaos at Cusco airport, but that kind of "we are now on an adventure chaos" which is always good fun. Bags arrived no trouble. Transport - kind of no trouble...... Pan music in the van already.

Boy you can feel the altitude.

Mumbai..... first trip to India

Finally I get to come to India, not for pleasure but for business, even better in some ways. Opportunity to try it out and see if I want to come and spend more time here exploring. Been just over 24 hours and it is definitely somewhere I would like to come back to.

Everyone gave me warnings, it’s a culture shock, you won’t expect much of what you see etc.etc. Now granted I have only been here 24 hours and seen airport to hotel, hotel to office, office to hotel, but I am loving the experience.

On my journey in from the airport yesterday (after a good 20 hours of flying) I was struck by the chaos of the city, cars, auto rickshaws and motorbikes everywhere. But, there is also a certain order to it all - cars get right of way (through a lot of horn honking...) and then the auto rickshaws and it is left for the motorcycles to wind their way through them all. Pedestrians..... well they just have to step off the pavement (such that it is) and hope for the best when crossing the street. But what little I have seen they just seem to know when the best time is to step of the pavement.

In my 20 min trip from the airport to hotel (am told this was pretty quick), I witnessed my first Indian transvestite in a Sari - very elegant. A man driving a motorbike with a shockingly orange beard (peeking out from his helmet) and an elegant female passenger in a Sari (no helmet). It seems as though the law is helmet for driver of motorbike but bugger the passenger - crazy (but got it confirmed by one of my colleagues today in the office that there is no law for the passenger and so no helmet is worn). Even grown ups traveling with their kids - grown up driver has helmet, kid has none.

My hotel overlooks Powai Lake - quite an oasis in a busy city - as the dusk was starting to arrive I realized that on the lake edges were numerous people out for their evening swim, plunge, wash, who knows, but was fascinating to watch.

So far Mumbai is somewhat enchanting me. It helps that today in the office I met some really lovely people, that I have been in touch with over video conferences and telephone calls, but meeting in person has been great and very welcoming.

Last night I was warned by my driver that the 2km drive this morning from hotel to office  would take at least 20 mins if not half an hour - it took 10 mins.....

Today has been more about work and getting to know the team than really seeing the city. I ate again in the hotel, but this time in their signature Indian restaurant and (maybe because I am a female on my own) I was treated like a queen.

More to follow of my experiences in this city and in this country.

Hola....

It's been a while since we posted anything on this blog.... Why, well renovations finished, life back to normal, so what is there to post...

As you saw on our last post Hippo passed away - this was very hard for us, so we decided on the sensible option of getting another dog... Meet Jambo - rescue dog from the Turks & Caicos islands, why, why not? She is adorable but has her moments, not quite as placid as Hippo was and certainly has a voice, which Hippo never had.

We are waiting with baited breath from various breeders to find out if we can get dog #2 - a chocolate labrador...

In the meantime a selection of pictures of the little Jambo

Hippo

For anyone still following our blog, sorry for the lack of information.  Just want to let the followers know that we had to put Hippo to sleep this weekend.  She is in peace and out of pain, but we miss her so much xxxx

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico here we come. Sitting in Jet Blue terminal having some sushi as we will get nothing on the plane. Very excited to have first visit here not due to missing connecting flights........

Staying at the Royal Isabela but probably not playing golf. Thinking of a cooking class tomorrow and scuba diving on Saturday. Then rest on Sunday.

Happy Easter to all still following our blog :)