LyndaS

And off we go to Machu Picchu very early Friday morning! Which is why I haven't been around too much lately, lots of research to do for our 10 days in Peru - and - of course it's tax time so LOTS of work! I never seem to be able to catch up!

As some of you may remember, this is a 'company' trip, one of the companies that I do the books for sold - and for a pretty penny - so the COB wanted to thank us for a job well done and he is taking us, along with our partner/spouse/whatever for 6 days in Lima, Cusco and of course Machu Picchu - the Hiram Bingham train no less!

Jim and I are staying in Lima for 3 extra days as we have never been there, and we MUST explore in depth every nook and cranny of this world!

So, just wanted to say bye bye and I'll tell all you guys how it went later!

safarimama

Have a fabulous trip; I'm sure it's well deserved with your hard work. Will life slow down when you return? Be sure to point us all to your trip report when posted on a different board.
Hasta La Vista,

sandi

Lucky you, another trip. Have a great time.

Reminder - go easy on the alcoholic beverages at those high altitudes!

thit_cho

Lynda, have a great trip. While Machu Picchu certainly is a highlight, Lima is, in my opinion, often the victim of unjust criticism.

The colonial center is a UNESCO sight, very photogenic, with a small Chinatown (you can order Chinese-style cuy, or guinea pig -- I ordered cuy in Cuzco, but had a very difficult time eating more than one bite). And there are some excellent ceviche places in the artistic community near the coast (I don't recall its name, but the area is described in the Lonely Planet). I would have recommended the Museo de Oro, which I visited in 1998, but shortly after my visit it was "discovered" that 99% of the collection was counterfeit -- no wonder it was so good.

Lima also has, if memory serves me, a pretty good zoo.

I'm off tomorrow to Granada, Nicaragua for a long weekend, which, like Lima, is another colonial city.

matnikstym

Have a great time Lynda! Hope to see a trip report when you return. Too bad your stapler doesn't get FF miles!
Have fun!

LyndaS

Michael, you are first person that has actually told me that Lima is worth a good look, THANKYOU - everyone has been saying 3 days is way too much - but in my research there is lots of things that I have found that I'd like to see. The zoo is on our list for an afternoon, I really want to see some of the indigenous animals, I'm really hoping that there is a capybara there. (or whatever that strange huge rat was that Lynn saw in Paraguay, hope I didn't get the name wrong). We have a private tour guide (found on Trip Advisor) and a car and driver at our disposal for two of the days, so I am really looking forward to learning lots.

I read that about the Gold Museum, they have reopened adn they have guarenteed that what they have now is 100% real, so it is on our list. Ceviche is a definite, mmmm good, can't wait! And cuy, well.... Jim wants to try it, but me, I am not so sure. There is a restaurantin Miraflores that is right beside Huaca Pucllana Ruins that serves it without the head, so maybe....

Sandi, Kristina and Dennis thanks for the well wishes, you are right about that stapler - it's packed and ready! Suitcase is only 3/4 full (I'm getting SO much better at this packing thing!) and weighs 49 lbs. The empty suitcsaae, even though it's new & says 'lightweight', weighed a walloping 13 lbs - but it's a wonderful suitcase - Travelpro 25", but I haven't put the wine gums or Spunky (world travelling bear) in yet so I guess I may be a few lbs over.

Sandi, I am worried about that altitude at Cusco, travel doc gave us some diamox (think that's what it was) as she did tell me that even though fitness has nothing to do with it, those that of us who carry a 'few too many lbs' will more than likely feel it because my cells greedily keep oxygen in them.... But I don't drink adult beverages, so at least that is a plus for me!

thit_cho

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larco_Museum

I think I visited the zoo on the same day as my visit to the Larco Museum. Believe me, no one knows less about pre-Colombian art than I do, and I found the museum fascinating.

Patty

Have a great trip, Lynda! I took ginkgo at the dosage and schedule listed here http://www.basecampmd.com/expguide/amspremed.shtml for our trip to Tibet and felt that it helped with acclimatization (ginkgo can interact with other medications though so make sure you research this if you take any other medications, particularly blood thinning ones).

Jim has to let us know how he liked cuy. I wanted to try it in Ecuador but caught a bug from one of the other passengers on our Galapagos cruise and didn't feel great after we got back to the mainland so never tried it.

Kavey

Bon Voyage, Lynda!
Hope you and Jim have a blast.
Give him my regards!

waynehazle

Lynda

Have a great time at Machu Picchu and Cuzco. I went a few years back. Check out www.waynehazle.com/chileperu

There is no glory like Machu Picchu in Black & White:
http://waynehazle.com/chileperu/gall...08_20_R20.html
http://waynehazle.com/chileperu/gall...17_28_R20.html
http://waynehazle.com/chileperu/gall...18_29_R20.html
http://waynehazle.com/chileperu/gall...20_31_R20.html

I wrote a travel report on the trip also. The PDF version is better but you can read it on Fodor's at:
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=6

You can also check out my videos:

MP Parts 1 & 2
travelistic.com/video/show/2158
travelistic.com/video/show/2170

Cuzco
travelistic.com/video/show/1603

I got quite ill on landing in Cuzco. Make sure you sniff plenty of "Inca mint" Then chase that with a few pisco sours.

And let me be the second person to tell you Lima is worth seeing.

waynehazle

And no Peru is not Africa, but at least there are a few lamas wandering the grounds of MP. Be careful, they bite and sometimes spit

RBCal

The wildlife viewing in the Amazon rivals that in Africa.

Its a short flight from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado and the Tambopata rainforest.

I saw numerous capybara, caiman, tropical birds, monkeys and nearly stepped on a Fer de Lance there.

JaneB

Diamox was a lifesaver for me in Peru. You will be glad that you have it.

Calo

What? How did I miss this bit of news? This'll be another pin in the old world map, eh Jim? I'm sure it will be a fabulous time. All the best for a safe, happy trip. I guess I'll see the pictures at the GTG later this summer.

Leely

Have a great trip! Please post a link to your photos when you return.

atravelynn

I remember your company trip. Have a good one!

going_2_africa

Have a great trip Lynda. I was just telling someone, not too long ago, that I knew of a lady who was going on a company trip to Peru. Needless to say they were quite envious - as I'm sure most would be. I know I was. ;-)

Again, have a great trip.

Shane