Photo: Cuzco main square
Friday, May 30, 1997 We had to get up early for the breakfast of fresh orange juice, bread, and strawberry jam. After the long ride to the Juliaca airport, our driver tried to collect the fare we had already prepaid. Because he gave up so easily, I suspect he had already been paid by our PanAmericana travel agent.
A Peruvian band played in our departure area prior to takeoff. They were so loud we could not hear any of the announcements. The 9:15 Americana flight only took 45 minutes. During the flight, the stewardesses served us a piece of hard candy. However, one stewardess gave Josh a cup of candies with a note inside the cup. The note said "You are the medicine for my heart. CREW" Josh thought it was Jan playing a trick on him. But as we deplaned in Cuzco, the young stewardesses were waving at him.
Photo: Imperial Palace Hotel
Besieged by taxi drivers, airport security kept us in the terminal until Rick chose Norma to take us in her van to the Hostal Caceres. Norma, who happened to run the Imperial Palace Hotel, had nothing but bad things to say about Caceres. Norma promised hot water and toilets with seats on them, luxuries that seemed to have an appeal to Mary and Jan. We ended up at the Imperial Palace in a large room with 5 beds, two iron chandeliers, and a fire place. We decided to start the Inca Trail tomorrow morning. Norma would buy the train tickets and provide us with a ride to the train station in the morning.
We had to buy food and benzina (white gas) for the stoves. Rick and I found benzina for sale in a camping store. In the past we were never able to find benzina in Cuzco. Lunch was Palta de la Reina (chicken avocado salad) at the Cafe Haylliy, our favorite cafe. The German chocolate cake was as good as we remembered. The square was full of people celebrating Corpus Christi. At night, because of conservation, the water is off from about 9 PM until 4:30 AM. You can hear the water come on at 4:30 AM, because all the toilets fill up.
Map of Peru/Bolivia trip
