Into the Andes

We flew from Lima to Cusco this morning.  Holy Week in Peru is filled with activities every day.   Schools have shorter days, business hours fluctuate, and there are many religious events.
We drove through Cusco, the center of the Incan World,  and then through miles and miles of scenic agricultural areas on our way into the spectacular Andes. The lush green mountains, shimmering glaciers and low - hanging clouds made for a memorable drive.
We stopped at the mountain weaving village of Chinchero at an elevation of 12,500 feet.  The weavers were most welcoming as they demonstrated each step of the weaving process they have developed over many generations. They encouraged us to participate as they showed us the
process.
Here are some photos from today.

A weaver at work

Mel accepts traditional potato and salsa from  a host

Looking ahead to the majestic Andes

Palm Sunday in Lima

Some interesting facts about Peru ' s capitol:

9 million of the country's 30 million people live here.
It is the driest capitol in the world with only .08" of rain annually.
The city is divided into 43 districts.  Each district has its own mayor, central church square, and municipal buildings.

Today was special in that it was Palm Sunday in a Catholic nation.  We saw thousands of people celebrating the feast day and a huge procession to the downtown church.

Here are a few photos from our day.

Janet and Dick are ready for the day

Marilyn watches Bob enjoy apple pie and ice cream for his first Peruvian lunch

Our guide Corina

Palm Sunday procession

Greetings from Lima!

Everyone arrived safe and sound---with luggage--at our hotel in Lima about midnight last night.  We will begin our day with an informational meeting with our Peruvian trip leader.  She will take us on a walking  tour of part of this city of 10 million later today.

Lima airport

Here we go again!

We will be doing some traveling over the next few months,  and I'll resume blogging from various locations.   If you have signed up for automatic email alerts for my posts, they will begin soon.

Cambodia 2014

Vietnam 2014