Being charmed by luck, I had won some Alaska Airlines tickets anywhere they flew at a business networking event. Thank you GSBA! So the choice to us was obvious, it was either Hawaii or Mexico for sun and relaxation. We had both spent quite a bit of time in Hawaii so we wanted to see something new. We chose Mexico and spent a week on the Yucatan Peninsula and then time exploring Mexico City at the end of the trip. We enjoyed the white sand beaches of Cancun, the Spa at the JW Marriott Resort, excellent food in Playa del Carmen, and explored the Mayan ruins of Tulum. We had planned to see the Pyramid and Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, but a slip on the tennis court meant more pool time for us. The extra rest was a blessing in disguise, as it is hard to keep us down when there are so many exciting things to see!
Not originally planned, but since we were already south of the border, we had been invited to join the NGLCC American Delegation to participate in the 3rd Annual LGBT Summit of the Americas and Cultural Exchange in Lima, Peru. It was an offer we could not pass up! We spent a few days in conference, meeting Peruvian leaders, US Ambassador Brian Nichols, other business leaders from South America, and our friend and guide Aaron owner of Tour Guide Peru. (If you ever get to Peru, Aaron is the best! You will feel safe, taste, and see more than you imagined. Warning: Pisco Sours seem to be a mild and refreshing drink until you try to get up from your chair! They are kind of like a frothy margarita, but with one hell of a wallop!) Lima and Peru for that matter is a foodie’s paradise. Lima is particularly known for its stunning Ceviche and delicious Lomo Saltado, the best of which we had in Aaron’s Mom’s kitchen.
After the Summit six of us from the American contingent were whisked off to Cuzco the former Capital of the Incan Empire. High in the Andean Mountains the city sits at 11,200 feet above sea level. Chris handled it pretty well, but I experienced altitude sickness right away. You feel a little drunk all the time, alcohol not necessary. I wasn’t sure if it was the affects of the altitude or the coca tea that they give you for it, but it sure made me feel loopy. Luckily at the Casa Andina where we were staying they would bring oxygen tanks to our room, so that we could acclimate to the altitude.
The hotel was located in a beautifully restored 18th century stone mansion. It had numerous colonial patios, courtyard fountains and colonnades with views of the mountains all around us. For art lovers like Chris and I, it was splendid as the hotel maintained an enormous collection of Cuzco School paintings that hung throughout in every hallway. We learned a lot about the Cuzco School through our time there. The School was a group of European and indigenous painters active in the area from the 16th through the 18th century. European artists began working in Cuzco shortly after Spanish colonization of the city in the 1530’s. They introduced Renaissance styled painting to indigenous artists, mainly to paint religious themes to teach the Incan people Catholicism. The result is a body of beautifully painted and gilded works that tell religious stories with the Virgin Mary predominantly themed with Incan cultural references throughout. One of my favorites is a painting of “the last supper” that features cuy or guinea pig as the main course on the table.
The town itself was just amazing with the vivid colors, Incan historical sites, and Spanish colonial buildings. We had a private tour of many of the most important and sacred Inca archaeological sites, my favorite being the giant zig-zagged walled complex of Sacsayhuaman or “sexy woman” as the locals like to say for the English speakers. The food again was fantastic, every meal like a five star dining experience. I tend to be adventurous eater. Several of us in our group wanted to try cuy, but the chance did not arise. Most places serve it whole like suckling pig, which was a little too much. I love meat, just not when it is served looking back at me. I did however discover that I love alpaca! I had it several times and found it to be like a fine grained tenderloin, with a flavor somewhere between pork and beef, but distinct all on its own. If you like carbs Peru is the place! Bread, potatoes, rice, and corn are often found on the same plate served together. It is kind of like Thanksgiving every day! But I can see the need for the extra energy moving about at the higher altitudes.
Next our tour took us by van through majestic countryside and the Sacred Valley of the Incas to the town of Ollantaytambo along the Rio Vilcanota which is one of the beginning tributaries high in the Andes that eventually connects to the great Amazon River. There we hopped onto a nicely appointed Peru Rail train, which took us on a very scenic ride along the river and down the canyon from the high plateau into the beginnings of lush jungle to Machu Picchu Town. There were orchids and bromeliads growing just about everywhere along the train route once we hit the jungle. It was really quite breathtaking. We dropped elevation by about 3,000 feet. I could breathe easier and was no longer affected by the altitude sickness.
Machu Picchu Town is nothing more than small hotels for tourists, hostels for backpackers, restaurants, bars, and tchotchke shops. It is all tucked into the base of the river canyon. All around you are these incredibly tall monolithic stone outcrops that are so sheer, looking up is equivalent to standing outside of a skyscraper in New York City to see where the top of the building meets the sky.
The real treat was getting up the next day early to catch the first bus up the mountain to the sanctuary of Machu Picchu. Chris and I can both say that we truly have not ever been to a place that seemed more magical. Seriously, pan flutes were playing and birds were singing. There was a Peruvian couple in their 80’s holding hands with their grandchildren helping them up the steps as they were making their pilgrimage. As we made our way to the entry gate the clouds parted and the morning sun shined down on the sanctuary, and there it was for us to behold, the “Lost City of the Incas”. It was like we were floating in the heavens, there were clouds below us hugging the mountain sides at lower elevations and wisps of vapor disappearing before us at the tops. You can see why the Incan Kings choose this site for their home and why it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site now. The vistas from every angle of this place were mesmerizing. It was hard to imagine how such a place could be built today with modern machinery. Wondering how the Inca moved and carved so many large stones fitted with precision in this remote place more than 800 years ago is inconceivable. It was a fantastic experience that we will relive in our minds for years to come!