LLAMAS! Part #1

Now that I've been back in the States for about a month, I'm FINALLY posting about my trip to Peru.
The short version: it totally rocked! I highly recommend it!
The long version: We had the best time! Everything was stellar, from the first (of many) flights to the food to the trail guides to the llamas.

After a panic-inducing passport check on the way to the airport, Fritha and I left Seattle on an overnight flight and thanks to a tiring work week and some Valium, we arrived in Newark somewhat well-rested and PUMPED for our trip. Queenie and Midori arrived a couple of hours later and after hugs and squeals (we're such girls) we began the official wait for our flight to Lima. We bought journals, exchanged currency, ate lunch, browsed make-up and jewelry stores, contemplated pedicures, naps and made final phone calls. Then we got on the plane.
8 hours later, we arrived in (less than glamorous) Lima. We drank Pisco Sours and went to bed, got up early and went back to the airport. The Pisco Sours were the highlight.
Cusco, on the other hand was much better. We arrived to a chilly, clear, sunny morning with bright blue skies and big mountains. And thinner air. And we felt it as soon as we got off the airplane. That altitude thing was TOTALLY weird.
Arriving at our hotel (the Torre Dorada) we instantly fell in love: with our hotel, with Cusco and with Peggy, the hotel owner. She poured us some tea and sat down with us to go over our itinerary for the week while others carried our luggage upstairs for us. She showed us maps, gave us advice, booked us on a private tour of the Sacred Valley and basically rocked our faces off. After settling in, we headed into downtown for lunch and exploring. Between the altitude and the travel and the jetlag, we needed a nap after lunch, then headed back downtown for a lovely dinner and then early to bed. The next day we got up pretty early for delicious breakfast with Peggy, then off to the city! We saw the main square, did some shopping, visited a temple, saw llamas and really had a blast. Our definition of "blast" included caipirinhas and the best. guacamole. ever.

We went to bed early and got up pretty early the following day for our private tour of the Sacred Valley. Victor, our guide, drove us around and played classic american rock in the van. We hiked around some ruins at Pisac, guided by the lovely and talented Ruben, shopped at some markets, ate at a buffet lunch and got back to town in time for our orientation meeting for the hike.
Highlights: Kristin's nosebleed, alpaca petting zoo, good shopping, Ruben hit on Sara, Victor, "You guys know this music is in Spanish, right?"

After our tours, we arrived back in Cusco in time for our trial orientation meeting. Our orientation meeting was supposed to be informative and introductory. It turned out to be shocking and panic-inducing. Our guide comes in, introduces himself and says he has bad news. He proceeds to tell us that there are protests scheduled for the city the next day and we need to leave for the hike earlier than expected. Like that night. Like in 2 hours. We were not packed, had not showered and had not eaten dinner. Given that we'd be camping and hiking for the next 4 days, we desperately wanted hot water, good dinner and well-packed bags. But being the industrious adventurers we are, we made a plan and got it handled. We showered, packed, purchased and ate dinner, checked out of the hotel, said goodbye to Peggy and got to the hike bus early enough to play the name game with our group members before loading up.
A LONG bumpy ride later we arrived in the parking lot where we'd be spending that night. We got up the next morning, paid to use the bathroom, to which we brought our own water for brushing teeth, washing face, washing hands and flushing the toilet. Yes, we paid to use a toilet that required us to provide the water after sleeping in a tent in a parking lot.
Then we started hiking.
More on that later....