Macchu Piccu -- Cusco, day 8

I can't remember what day it is -- i think day 8 of this trip. seems like i've been here a month and a half. Suz, thanks for the home news about your boys. Yes, i do believe Nick has art talent as does adam with his physical gifts. Okay, here's what's new since the last time or what a tired brain can remember after two days at Macchu Piccu. I told you about the first day. The second day i got up at 5 and caught a bus back up the mountain at 6 (the bus ride is the scariest part of this whole Macchu Piccu experience, hanging on the edge of a narrow dirt road and overlooking the valley below) to hike up to the Sun Gate which is a gap in the mountains to the east of Maccchu Piccu and lets the sun fall on this ancient city. the hike to 9000 feet was breathtaking and at times had me a bit breathless -- but the views were stunning. So stunning in fact i finished my second 2 gig memory card in 7 days. Lowsey me!! Oh, well... On the Inka Trail ( which i was hiking and runs altogether 70 miles from cusco to the macchu piccu spiritual center) is a beautiful stone path or highway through the mountains, where the llymas walk with you. (how do you spell llmas without spell check and on half a brain???) In fact i was resting on a stone that had a puddle of water on it and two lylmas waled up the path, stopped, and drank fron the puddle next to my, their fur brushing my body. Anyway, how these Inca Indians ever built this road and their cities (at altitude) is mindboggling with nothing more than their hands and primative tools. They were wonderful architects and builders. Now, i want to read more about this civilzation. Leaving Macchu Piccu and on the Peru Railway (in blue and gold) heading toward Cusco, the porters on the train gave a fashion show of baby alpaca sweaters. They're always trying to seel you something here. After getting off the train in the town of 20 letters i can't spell, we got on our bus to continue our trip home to cusco. we stopped in another village that had a red bag hanging on a stick outside their house. That is the national sign that homemade beer is for sale inside -- chachi beer made from fermented corn and sometimes strawberries. Guess who was not bashful and had 2 glasses. This place was like a bar back home but instead of pinball machines they had homemade wooden boxes with holes and you have to throw coins or metal disks and try to get them into the holes. The locals drink their quaffs and play this game for drinks and money. Well, beer and all we finally made it back to cusco and i had spagetti and a red wine for dinner. Now, i'm brain dead and ready for bed. lots more happened today but that's all i'm capable of right now.
ciao, mi amigos