07/07/07

i was here, originally uploaded by sammarin.

We visited Machu Picchu on Saturday, and it just happened to be the day that the New Seven Wonders were announced... and Machu Picchu was awarded number 4!

Voting was on when Mom and Dale visited in the spring, and booths were still set up last weekend when I went with the whole group. Signs are everywhere here in Peru urging people to vote for Machu Picchu.

There were big parties on site, in Aguas Calientes, and in Cusco. As the results were announced, live music played in Aguas Calientes and TVs were all tuned in to the live ceremony. B & I celebrated the evening by visiting the thermal baths and then eating traditional Peruvian fare: cuy (guinea pig) and chicken roasted over a fire.

Check out more Peru photos here.

at the highest point

We took a bus for 7 hours from Cusco to Puno today, and this is the town we will stay in for the next two nights - we visit Lake Titicaca tomorrow. Then on Saturday, we head for Arequipa, the town we will stay in for 4 weeks while we take our classes for the Travel Study-Spanish MA program through Sac State.

The landscape has totally changed between Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu, and the area leading down to Puno. It is much drier here. I will post photos of both places soon on flickr... maybe after we have settled down in Arequipa. We are at the highest altitude we have experienced on the trip. Some of the symptoms of soroche (altitude sickness) are fatigue, headache and nausea. Thanks to Pacha Mama and drinking mate de coca, I have not had any big problems yet - except for being super tired. I definitely feel like 10pm is the latest I can muster these days.

Up early tomorrow to see Titicaca and the floating islands.