Cusco and Machu Picchu Peru

Cusco

The starting point to Machu Picchu

Cusco

Nestled in a valley and this is where you catch the train to Machu Picchu 

Cobble stone streets

Narrow streets designed for wagons and horses and not cars

Street view

Here you can see where in the middle of the street there is a place for the rain water to  run down  and how small the streets are.

The passages in town

Made for wee folks

Train to Machu Picchu

There are three classes of trains that go to and from 
Auga Caliente 

The Mayor 

A local resident and her friend 

Center of Cusco Peru

Shopping day

Local Meat Market

Guinea Pig or Alpaca

Yummy

                    Machu Picchu Mountain

Machu Picchu stands for Old Mountain and there is mountains like this one at either end of the village of Machu Picchu

Housing and  terraced  area's

 There is a problem with the land moving because of the rains. It slides a few centimeters every year.

City in the clouds

The village is in cloud cover often and it does rain quite a bit. Since in the clouds maybe one of the reason it was not discovered for so many years

Terraced area's

This was a research facility for testing plant seeds and is the reason for the tarraced planting surfaces,They say there was about 500 people living here.

Stone houses

These are built to perfection. They did not use any filler between the stone.

Penthouse

People going up to the guard house location.Their are about 2500 people a day visiting the ruins.

View Property

Location, Location,Location

The new 

These are the new folks living in Machu Picchu

Window into the past

Bridge Engineering 

New seeds were brought along this path. Wow can you imagine the number of days it took to make this bridge!

Village of Agua Caliente

The village you stay in for visiting the ruins

Transportation 

Tourist class train to and from Cusco

Back in Cusco

Almost all pathways are on hills

Who cut their hair

How is this for fence building

Lima Peru the old and the new

Center of town

                     












                                   

Coffins of small children and babies in Cathedral cript   

Same church as the baby coffins were located 

Town center

A water cannon truck plus it has other action items on board 

Never thought of Lima on the water or beaches

It has its modern face also

Surfing in Lima. It could happen

Central Cathedral downtown Lima

Main Zocolo

Yep it has a Starbucks

Zihuatanejo Mexico

 This is a small fishing town with beautiful beaches all around a bay filled with fishing and pleasure boats

El Gatas Beach

 This is a short boat ride from the dock at Playa El Palmar to a beautiful beach that 

you can spend the day swimming or just enjoying this peacful beach.

Playa El Palmar

A beach area the local fishermen have there boats beached. They go out in the afternoon around 5 P.M. and return early the next morning with their catch. The boats are moved to and from the beach on small logs. 

Early Morning Fish Market

Fishermen selling their catch on El Palmar beach.

Xtapa

Just a short bus ride from Zihuatanejo is Xtapa. 

High rise hotels and white sand beaches. Expensive and very touristy

Zihuatanejo Bay 

This area is well protected and is the perfect spot for taking a swim. Here you can see part of the city of Zihuatanejo

El Gatas Beach

Here awaiting your arrival is your chair in the surf  

Merry Christmas From Mexico

Christmas 2013

The beauty of Christmas and the love that goes into preparing for the day that we come together to celebrate.

A day of giving and receiving. 

The joy of the season and what it means to each one of us.

A Very Merry Christmas 

And

Happy New Year

Hugs

Joel