Cuzco!!!!

Eduardo was waiting for us early this morning for our ride to the airport.  He told us about fighting with a man yesterday who was attempting to enter his taxi and steal his radio.  We left Lima early this morning and took a flight to Cusco (Cuzco).  We flew Star Peru which seems to be a very nice airlines.  The flight was only a bit over an hour but they gave us a box breakfast of a roll with cheese and meat and a piece of cake and drinks.  Flying directly over the Andes was absolutely breathtaking.  I was really sleepy but did not want to miss a thing.  Many of the mountains looked quite green but as we got into Cusco more and more were covered with snow.  The city of Cusco is nestled in the mountains.  For you NW people the altitude is similar to the top of Mt. Hood.  Coco the owner of the hostal where we are staying was waiting for us at the airport. He and his wife own this place and run it like a home.  We have access to the kitchen, can cook if we want.  We already had some coca tea (the same plant which cocaine is made of) which is supposed to help with altitude sickness.  The owner gave us a crash course in what happens to the body at high altitude.  In a nutshell people who live here have more red blood cells which carry more oxygen to the body.  We have fewer and it can make you not feel great as you acclimate.  We were advised to take it easy today which we will do.  Neither of us feel too bad.  The medicine makes you tingle like when your foot falls asleep...weird.  We will venture out soon to a grocery store for water and to see the main plaza.  We have four days here which I expect will not be enough.  Tomorrow is the Festival of the Sun that brings people from all over the world.  I told Moyra that sun tattoos would be a great souvenir.  Time to go for now.  I hope this finds you all well.  I wish you could see all that we are seeing.  Hugs!