Caccaccollo

Caccaccollo is a town of about 600.  But I saw very few men because they we either working in the fields or working as porters on one of the trails. They have an elementary school but the children must go to Cusco for high school.  The women produce a variety of textiles using traditional techniques. I was very impressed by how efficient they were. Every part of everything is used for something and then repurposed for something else. 

The children had just completed their winter session of school and were also celebrating Peru's Independence Day so, they had a parade in the town square. 

The temperature dropped to near freezing that night but that didn't stop us from dancing in the community center. It was a long cold walk up the steep mountainside to Miguel and Patricia's home were I spent the night. 

Here's a video of their home:

http://youtu.be/CaXQWpKz3P4

Leaving for the Countryside Tomorrow Morning

We leave Cusco early tomorrow morning for the countryside. I'll be staying with a local family and will probably do a bit of farm work or maybe even some weaving. I've been warned that the nights will get even colder so, I may pickup some extra alpaca clothing to sleep in.  I doubt there will be wifi so it may be a few days before I can make another post so, you may not here from me again until Machu Picchu. 

Right now, I need to organize my gear and pack.

What to Wear?

It's really hard to know what to wear in Cusco. At this high altitude, you can feel both hot and cold at the same time. The air is thin and cold but the sun is very intense.  The hotel doesn't seem to have any kind of climate control. It gets very cold at night but my bed has several layers of blankets and I use them all. 

Getting to know Cusco

I flew to Cusco yesterday morning and just walked around after checking into the hotel. It didn't take long to notice the difference in altitude. I had  a bad headache last night but I felt a bit better this morning. 

So, I went horseback riding through the mountains. The views where amazing and I got some nice video for the DVD. 

San Francisco Monastery

Visited the San Francisco Monastery today.  I was also able to roam the catacombs beneath. 

First Day in Lima

My flight landed early in the morning so, I had some breakfast in the airport before taking a taxi to my hotel.  I had the whole day free to just walk around and get to know the city. As promised, my first meal  was ceviche. 

It's a bit colder here than I expected. This is the Peruvian winter but I was expecting warmer weather this close to the equator. As you can see, I have on a layer of fleece and a jacket over my shirt.  

Tomorrow I will be visiting the catacombs of the San Franscisco Cathedral.  I'm excited about that so I should hit the sack so I can get an early start to my day tomorrow. 

Morning Walk

The sun was just rising as Sweeney and I took our morning walk. My bags are packed and I'm thinking about what I might have for breakfast. 

I can see a bit of fog in the air as I look up at the Baylor tower but, Delta is still showing my departure on time.  The DART train bell rings through the fog as we walk through the station garden.  I'll be boarding the train to the airport in about three hours.

Leaving in the Morning

This will be my last night before I leave so, Sweeney and I are relaxing a bit and having some quality time.  Our friend, Nick, will be taking care of Sweeney while I'm gone. 

Going Over the Checklist

Okay, part one of my summer is over.  Now it's time to focus on Peru. 

My hiking boots are five years old so I thought I should give them a new coat of waterproofing. 

With only 12 days left before my departure, I'm going over my checklist so I'll know what shopping I might need to do before I pack. I know I'll need to pick up some more sunblock and insect repellant.  I'll also need to check my first aid kit.

The temperatures can vary quite a bit as we reach different altitudes in the Andes Mountains so, I'll need to bring a variety of clothing to layer. My sleeping bag is rated to 20 degrees.  I'm thinking that will suffice but, I'll double check that. I've been doing some research and one of my resources recommended bringing a water filter but I've also read there are plenty of places to buy bottled water along the way, except for day two when I will be at the highest altitude. So, I think I can do without the water filter. 

I'm really starting to get excited now that it's almost time to start packing.