Thank you to Zak for allowing his mother to do a guest blog!

After a twenty plus hour plane ride with 4 connections in four countries we landed in La Paz, Bolivia at 1 am.  Within 3 hours I had a rip roaring headache which put me to bed for about 20 hours.  I rallied to tour around the city for one day with Zak before the high altitude sickness incapacitated me again.  Impressions of La Paz:  the people there live a hard life. It is still a third world country, many of the people there still wear traditional dress and not for the benefit of tourists, that is about all I remember thru the haze.  I eventually visited a clinic and was prescribed Diamox which slowly started to ease symptoms.  By Saturday, I flew into Cusco, Peru without Zak while he traveled overland to Lake Titicaca to visit the Isla del Sol and then boarded a bus for a torturous 15 hour to Cusco.  Poor sucker, but I do think he likes a little suffering in his adventures.

Meanwhile, I am feeling better in Cusco with the combination of Diamox and lowering my elevation about 1000′.  I enjoyed a double decker city bus tour and turistico bus tour of the Sacred Valley even though I wasn’t yet able to climb the ruins.

Zak joined me on Monday night after his big bus ride.  Word of caution, when traveling in South America and making hotel/hostel reservations if you need two beds in a room, request a twin room, not a double.  When checking in I was informed that a double meant a “matrimonial” bed.  Obviously, not what we were looking for.  When I mentioned my son was treinte y uno the girls behind the counter began to snicker.  Couldn’t wait to see Zak’s face when I told him that.  In the end, we had bunk beds the first night and 2 rooms the second.  Zak and I strolled the city and had a few good meals, Zak had alpaca “Gordon Blue”, I kid you not, it said “Gordon Blue” on the menu and came with cheese and ham.  Didn’t care for the aftertaste of alpaca.  Overall, the old town section of Cusco is charming.

I was surprised one day at the supermarket as I was passing the cat food/litter section, apparently a real cat lives in this section.

Wednesday we left for the village and ruins of Ollantaytambo which is on the way to Machu Picchu.  I was delighted to find that I could climb to the top of the ruins now.

and enjoyed a really nice day with Zak in the village.  The village is delightful and we had a good meal there as well.

Next day, catch the train to Machu Picchu!

We arrived in Aguas Caliente early that morning on Inca Rail, a lot of the guide books dis this town but I don’t mind it.  We found a lovely French bakery, La Boulangerie, which offered very yummy quiches, sandwiches, coffees, desserts etc.  After getting settled in our hostel we boarded the buses that take you on a hair raising ride up 2000′ around at least 15 hairpins curves, but you’re committed now.  After the last curve, the ruins come into view and the excitement is beyond description.

We spent an incredible day climbing all over the ruins taking pictures and for myself, finding it not quite true that I was really here at this special place with my son, thanks so much, Zak!  It reminded me of my trip to Angkor Wat with Tori.  I have been blessed with two special kids.

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Day two we did some hiking at the site, Zak managed to summit Huayna Picchu and descend to the Grand Cavern and back up, I made it about 2/3 of the way up and felt good about it.  Then we hiked over to the Incan Drawbridge before heading back to the valley floor to relax and eat. Tonight we catch the train back to Cusco for 2 more days of sightseeing, touring some more ruins and hopefully, some good meals.  A rocky beginning turns into an unforgettable trip.