And so it begins...

As I've mentioned, I recently returned from 2 1/2 weeks in South America. Peru and Bolivia to be exact. The main reason for going was a humanitarian expedition to Bolivia for a week. A few of those going decided to go to Peru the week before the expedition since we were going to be so close. Five of us met in Lima to begin our week of adventure...

As Amy and I were waiting in the terminal, I watched this guy spend 2 hours trying to set up his hammock. You could move two sets of chairs together and make a nice bed (which we finally did about 3am). So the time this guy wasted on setting up his hammock he could have had a nice nap. And he never did get his hammock to sit more than an inch off the ground once he was in it. I guess he was just super pumped to use his new hammock.

I went in to buy some memories but they were all out. Sad. I had to make my own.

I wish I bought one of these to carry around. The altitude was brutal. A flight of stairs left me out of breath.

Overlooking Cusco from a cathedral the greedy Spaniards built over some Incan ruins.

Our little family photo. Mike (who I knew at BYU-random), Amy, Charlene, me and Rich.

The little baby llamas were really cute. The girls were cute till they became greedy and wouldn't split the generous tip we gave them amongst themselves and each wanted more money. All they did was pose. They didn't sing or dance or anything.

Then we went to some ruins where there were some rocks that weighed over 700 tons that the Incans somehow moved. Our guide told us that aliens helped them. I figured he was kidding, but I'm actually not sure if he was.

Overlooking the ruins mentioned above

Over 12,000 feet and feeling it.

Some Incan fountain ruins. Our guide told us it was the fountain of youth. He had some crazy ideas.

The next day we left Cusco and went into the Sacred Valley. It's this beautiful valley north of Cusco full of Incan ruins that ends with Machu Picchu. 

You can't really tell in the photo, but there are ruins in the top center of the photo, above the terraces. The terraces and ruins seemed to always be built on the side of steep mountains (or at the top of them, like Machu Picchu). The Incans were really ambitious or just crazy. Or possibly paranoid. Whatever the reason, I was impressed.

After seeing the view they had, I can see why they built up so high.

The Incans started to carve a kings face into the side of the mountains before the dirty Spaniards came and they had to flee (can you tell I'm a little upset with the Spaniards?). Anyway, you can see this eyes and nose, and part of his crown. I don't know if the grainery to the right was going to factor into the carving or not.

Ollyatatambo. You can't tell much from the picture behind me. I'm just including it because it is one of the few photos of me this trip wearing something other than my black jacket. It is wintertime in South America. Despite being close(r) to the equator, the high altitude means cold. Hence, the jacket in most photos.

Ok, I'm going to bed. Next up, Machu Picchu.