Hello from Peru

All met up after our various flights. Did a city tour of Lima by bus - a city is a city! Went out for dinner locally before an early night.

Day 25 - Sun 1st January
Picked up at 6am for airport -all transfers have been great. Very small plane for  the trip. Jodi was sitting on the aisle & something was dripping on her head! Being a true air hostess she jumped up & in a strong, authoritarian voice asked who’s the bag was. Everyone looked blankly at her until she realised that no one could understand English. The real hosties were very good & immediately moved us to the front - it’s the closest to First class that we will get!! So interesting flying over the mountains, some snow covered.
Great pick up again & straight to hotel & then we had a short walk around Cusco until it started pouring with rain. When it rains it was torrential - have to buy plastic poncho’s.
In the afternoon had a nanny nap & then a massage - really good. Too wet & too tired, being affected by altitude, to wander for food so ate in the hotel. Early night.


Day 26 - Mon 2nd January
Woke at a reasonable time & after a good breakfast set off to explore the area. Finally found the square that I knew from my previous trip. There are some changes with some up market shops.
It was an interesting day here with a number of Saints being celebrated in many strange ways. You hear the church bells ring, then a band starts up & then it’s like a carnival with dancers in strange costumes & then fireworks go off. A picture of the Saint is usually carried through the streets as well.
We saw a couple of parade but the last one we saw was quite something. The priest came out of the church followed by a Peruvian band wearing their traditional outfits, followed by what looked like a small coffin & then some very skimpily dressed girls followed by young guys in interesting outfits - bell on their trouser legs. We were standing watching when a group of people carried a
a bamboo structure when Jodi was dragged away by a woman in the crowd who was gesturing wildly. I turned & could see flames coming out of a firework so I hot footed it across the road. Once on the other side of the road the fireworks went off & we were very glad that we had moved!All will be relieved to know that Valda made it safely across also!!