We were again awake early around 4am so I lay and wrote this blog for a while. Breakfast at 7.30, then packed up and ready to be picked up around 8.40, by Sebastian and his driver again (Wilson this time!) We were heading for the airport for our flight to Cusco, and at last we saw the ocean en route, with surfers in the waves.
Sadly the flight was delayed by half an hour, but eventually after an hour flight we landed in Cusco. Was it our imagination or was it tricky walking up the slope in the airport? Anyway we were met once again by Paul and his driver, and we set off for the 1 and a half hour drive to the Sol y Luna Hotel in Urubsmba. Once we left the city the scenery was beautiful. Lots of farm land with small fields. There were no visible farm machinery and thus I assume the land is worked by hand. We stopped at a view point to look down into the Sacred Valley.
Then a final descent down into the Valley and to our hotel. As we drove through the town I was a little worried about what we might find. Houses here (and everywhere in Peru) are often not finished to avoid paying tax, although they are inhabited, thus the town looked pretty scrappy. But how wrong could I be?
We drove into the courtyard of the hotel and I could tell immediately we were in an oasis of peace and tranquility – really! Paul insisted on checking our itinerary with us but I was impatient to get on. Finally Virginia our receptionist took us through the gardens to our cottage, telling us on the way we had a free upgrade – and wow what an upgrade! A beautiful cottage with a patio onto the garden and the most beautiful bathroom.
We spent what remained of the afternoon relaxing on the patio, watching the last of the Masters, and generally delighting in our surroundings. We even have humming birds in the bushes!
As the sun set we took a stroll to check out the gardens and the facilities, and had a beer ( with an avocado amuse Boucher) in the beautiful traditional bar in front of the log fire.
I went back to the cottage to freshen up, and while there had a knock on the door and I was presented with 2 hot water bottles for our bed!
We went back for dinner at 7.30 and had the most beautiful meal, with a potato amuse bouche, confit guinea pig to share ( that’s it done! It was fine, but I don’t need to have it again – boney, and a slightly fishy taste I thought), and then the most beautiful local dish called Lomo Saltado – traditionally Peruvian but with Chinese influences – the cuisine called chafa. It was stir fried steak with rice and potato cakes, plantain, and chips! Really good but just too much.
Confit Guinea Pig
Lomo Saltado
We carried our wine back to the room, and finally allowed myself to sleep about 10. Interestingly our heart rates were right up. Altitude I assume. We are at 2877 metres.
