Arrived Cusco

Hello everyone!

Last night we went on a ten hour overnight bus from Arequipa to Cusco. It was comfortable enough and I got a fair amount of sleep but for some reason at 1am the heater was blasting so much that I thought I was going to be sick. Luckily they turned it off after that!

We arrived in Cusco at 6am to find it had been raining but stopped before we arrived. We had breakfast at 'Jack's Cafe' - apparently quite a famous cafe here. I had a delicious serve of French toast with maple syrup, bananas and strawberries. 

Then we went for a walk around the town. Cusco is Peru's longest continuously inhabited city and was once the empire of the incas. I really like it here. The streets are cute little cobblestoned ones. It feels very safe and the surrounding hills are beautiful, even though sporadically throughout the day they are covered in grey cloud. It's a little like Melbourne - four seasons in one day!!

We checked out the main square including the cathedral, and then walked to some markets. I bought my magnet for Cusco and Ash shopped up a storm (I didn't - be proud!). Rachel wasn't feeling well at this point so headed back, while Courtney, Ash and I wandered and went to some more markets. All I bought was a poncho and a pair of hiking socks. Feeling well prepared for the inca trail now!

We got a bit lost heading back to the hotel but eventfully found our way. 

This afternoon, all of us but Kathleen went horseback riding. The weather put on a show as we were about to begin - rain, hail, thunder and lightning! So we waited a little before we began. I had never been on a horse except a Shetland pony at dad's work's Christmas parties years ago, so I was in the very beginners group. However I was just plonked on a horses and provided no instructions whatsoever, so it was a pretty nervy experience. We stopped along the way at the Temple of the Moon and some caves. As we went along I figured it out but my horse, Samco, was a bit of a rebel and kept throwing his head back and darting off in different directions. I was pretty scared, especially because at one stage Anne got thrown from her horse, but I forced myself to keep going. So another first has been accomplished in 2015 - so far we have sand dune surfing, sewing and horseback riding. Yay!

Tonight we are going out for dinner for Kathleen's birthday, but my stomach is playing up a bit. I'm sure it'll go away after a good night of sleep :)

Three days 'til the inca trail! I'll make sure I post before then. 

Lots of love to all

Claire

Xoxox