In Peru

We are in Peru. Our flight was very smooth and shorter than most international flights. We were greeted at the airport and went to the home of Celso and Vera. They were very welcoming. On Saturday afternoon, Luz took us for a tour around Lima. The taxis are definitely the most exciting part of Lima. We'll have to get a video and send it along. We were there for Sunday morning meeting--about 40 people. On Sunday, we went to the afternoon meeting at the home of Jose and Griselda. Afternoon meeting starts at 1pm, so was a mad dash to eat lunch, pack and get across town for the next meeting.
Lima was cloudy and COLD the whole time we were there.
Monday we arrived in Cusco, greeted at the airport by Alfonso and Pedro and the sun. Beautiful warm sun. We could finally take off some of our long underwear. They toured us around the city yesterday. Today we took a tour of the Sacred Valley. Lots of ruins and many answers of "No, gracias" to all the requests to buy any number of trinkets.
Lunch was interesting today. Trying to find a restaurant suggested in the guidebook, I was overconfident of the wrong address and ended up in a very small, interesting restaurant. We might pay for that mistake for the next few days, and we missed playing ping pong while waiting for our food (as we re-read the information about the first restuarnat in the guidebook :-( while eating at our dubious eatery).
We have learned thus far:
1. taxi drivers are crazy
2. a honk means move or get your feet/body run over
3. our hotel is nice, but could benefit from a heater
4. the altitude in cusco is 12,000 ft. and the air is a little thin. it is beautiful during the day and a WEE bit cold during the nights. (see no. 3).
5. we look way out of place and will be approached by each vendor on the street.
6. the welcome from the friends is overwhelming.

(Sorry, no pictures yet.)