Our Arrival

After spending the night in Lima, we took a late morning flight to Cusco. The taxi driver sped along cobblestone, squeezing between cars up and down the narrow streets before dropping us off at the top of the hill where our hotel was located. Many of the streets are one way alleys. We lugged our things down the stone steps to El Balcon, where we would stay while in Cusco. The staff was so gracious and accomodating. They made us feel comfortable immediately. They appreciated that Steve spoke Spanish to them.

Our living quarters consisted of two bedrooms and a bathroom. The walls were white plaster and bare wooden beams spanned the ceilings overhead. The landscaped courtyard was charming and smelled of the flowers blooming.

The first thing we did once our bags were in our room was to go down to the breakfast room and drank the coca tea which helps one adjust to the altitude. Each morning the staff served us a delicious meal of fresh fruit, eggs, cereal, yogurt and bread in the atrium.

From our hotel, we could walk downhill to the Plaza de Armas, which is the center of Cusco, in about ten minutes. Walking uphill, back to the hotel, took a little longer.