On to Cusco!

We really enjoyed our time in Ollantaytambo, the people were so friendly, the views of the ruins in the surrounding mountains were beautiful and the town itself was fun to explore.  I would love to go back again another day and discover the area more!!

Our hotel arranged our taxi back to Cusco, the Collectivo is something everyone should "enjoy" but we wanted to have time in Cusco so time waiting for a full van vs more money, we went with more money and had a truly enjoyable taxi ride.  Driver really only spoke Spanish and Cierra had to put hers to work but we learned alot about the cities and countryside we went through.  

Our hotel also recommended a hotel in Cusco I had seen online so before leaving we booked the Tierra Viva Cusco Centro for our night in Cusco.   After about a 2hr taxi ride our driver had us at the hotel door and we were pleasantly surprised with the room, service, and friendly staff.  The location was great for walking and exploring!

 With map in hand from the hotel we took off to explore Cusco, 1st place we decided would be the Mercado Central de San Pedro a market Cierra had seen online ~ WOW what a huge market, everything under 1 roof!

 Loved the market, souvenirs, alpaca goods, juice bar, fruits/vegs, meats, breads oh so many wonderful breads,!! cheeses, eggs, flowers, local meal bar we could of spent the whole afternoon just in this market.  We did buy some bread to eat as we walked around.

Next on the list of spots we wanted to see was the Museo y Catacumbas del Convento de San Francisco de Asis de Cusco just a short walk down the street.  We opted for the private guided tour through, he did speak English, and so glad we did.  A grand monastery with beautiful paintings, catacombs, organ with wood carved choir stalls and the breathtaking church.  My first experience touring crypts and that was different!

Next we headed down to The Plaza de Armas, we were so lucky to have a beautiful day to enjoy lunch with a stunning view ~ 

Wandered our way back to the hotel with some fresh baked goods for late night snacking.

Early morning flight back to Lima on Avianca enjoyed our continental breakfast and the hotel had our cab waiting.  We had some time in Lima airport as the flight to Miami was late in the evening.

 Did learn that as an airline employee you want to be sure and physically check in at the ticket counter for your international flights 2hrs before.  A friend had told me this and I thought kiosk was ok, it wasn't check in with an agent at the ticket counter!
Off we headed to Miami thinking we would connect in the morning out to Phoenix and home~ 

*next blog ~ our costs of the Machu Picchu trip~

Cost of Machu Picchu Trip details ~

The cost of our Machu Picchu trip ~

I am giving the info on all our costs except airfare.  

US exchanged ahead of trip  - $450 - at time 1,420 soles / PEN

I tried to pay all there with soles we had onhand ~

Cusco cab from Airport to  Collectivo pick up spot - 10 soles each

Collectivo van to Ollantaytambo _ 10 soles each

Hotel in Ollantaytambo La Casa del Abuelo - 420 soles

Perurail tickets Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu US 59.00 each up US 60.00 each back.  (we made a change to an earlier train back and paid additional US 34.10 total for both).

Machu Picchu tickets online ahead of time - US 136.00 total for both.

Bus up and back from Aguas Caliente to Machu Picchu US 48.00 each.

Private taxi Ollantaytambo to Cusco -  120 soles 

Hotel Cusco Tierra Viva Cusco Centro - booked online hotels.com US  71.00 (booked day before arriving there)

Covento de San Francisco de Asis de Cusco museum - 10 soles each.

Meals and souvenirs were all paid with soles we had, no additional atm withdrawls were made. 

Halloween spririt

For some reason this year Craig and I had Halloween spirit.  We normally aren't the dressed up ones, if we do it's minor.  We haven't been putting out decorations now that Cierra is off at school.

This year, however, was different!  Starting off a little decorating inside with pumpkins candle holders, ceramic pumpkin candy dish and this little flower arrangement ~

  

Super easy, glass cube, shot glass like middle vase.  Candy corn around the edges and flowers cut to fit the little shot glass size vase in center.

(I use this at every season with different outer edge candies or ??)

Outside we had our little skeleton friends ~ sprayed with glow in the dark paint for fun~

Halloween eve we headed out to a friends Halloween party.  Both of us sporting skeleton makeup and costumes!  Finished off the night at a local club dancing and spending time with family & friends.

We did the makeup ourselves thanks to multiple you tube videos....play & pause....

The matching set is it really all that??

Craig and I have been married 20+ yrs now.  About 10 yrs ago we bought our first brand new washer & dryer set.  I can remember walking into the store and picking out our pewter color set with matching pedestals.  I thought then that Wow we have "made" it no more hand me down appliances and this beautiful expensive set is ours, we picked it out, will have it delivered and it kind of shows that we have grown up and "arrived" as mature adults.

I know weird but something inside me said buying this expensive matching appliance set with extra pedestals really did say grown up and achievement.

Fast forward 10 years.  The washer sounds like a freight train coming through the utility room and the appliance repair person says the unthinkable...replacing it is better than fixing it and this color probably isn't available anymore.

Off we go to look at washing machines and we find out this color isn't available any more.  Something inside me says no we can't have a miss matching washer & dryer.  I know its just colors but deep down my inner self is saying your appliances need to match, grown up adults that have it together have matching appliances.

We walk upon a beautiful washer loaded with all the perks, it will talk to my cell phone!  It is a display model on sale as they are putting new ones out.  The price is amazing and it is the same brand LG which I do love.  It will also fit on the existing pedestal.  What's holding me back.... it is white. My dryer is pewter my pedestals are pewter this great washer is white.

The new washer is in.  Yes, it's white and yes deep down I still think appliances should match but the grown up mature adult in me is saying this price couldn't be beat and it's the upgraded have everything model that I am loving so really it's ok my washer is white and my dryer is pewter.

(After all, eventually the dryer will go out and I will replace it with a White one and then again I will match)!

If you get nothing from this post get this ~ colored appliances are gorgeous but go with white!