Machupicchu, Peru - day 1
On Tuesday, December 17th, Gene began a 4-day overland tour to the lost city of the Incas, Machupicchu. Jan was scheduled to go but after suffering fractured ribs in Argentina wisely elected to remain on the ship. The excursion began with a 6:00 AM flight from Lima, Peru to Cusco, Peru, high in the Andes at an altitude of 11,152 feet. Cusco, today a city of nearly half-million residents, was once the capital of the Incan Empire. Though the Empire only lasted about 100 years (during the 15th century), it dominated much of the west coast of South America and controlled a population of nearly 10-million persons. To help our bodies acclimatize to the high altitude, we began exploring Cusco immediately upon arrival. Our first stop was at the Convent of Santo Domingo. After the Spanish defeated the Incas, they systematically dismantled every Inca temple and ceremonial center and built a Catholic Church upon the temple's foun...