Tana's infinite questions

as are others who I’ve forwarded this site to. I take a deep breath each time I see all the typos – the teacher in me – but I know, you’re on a little bitty screen typing fast – so quantity is much more important than quality. Did you like Pisac? Was it worth visiting? Is the shopping better and cheaper in Lima or Cusco? Or in Pisac? I’m worried about the altitude. How will we do it? not sure…..can you post pictures to the blog? be careful and sure footed

it is cold. Hot during the day but cold at night. The temperature change between sun and shade is also crazy. Shade is so cold.
Pisac was cool. The city is small with just little shops covering the main plaza. The ruins are really cool, a lot of climbing and its hot. It's far to get there though... But defintly worth the trip I think. May have been better with a guide. It's a lot of walking, we spent about an hour but you could easily spend 2 there.
Shopping... Cuzco is a lot more hectic. In Lima we found a shopping center, typical tourist stuff, but it was really nice, reallyfriendly. Charlotte and I spent a long time ther because they all sell the same stuff, but different, you gotta walk around. In Cuzco it's not as nice forthe alpaca stuff, the layout does t let you see the cloths as nicely, but it's the same stuff.
Also, no we can't post pictures. We post some o. Charlottes facebook so just pretend they're next to each other.
The altitude- is mostly a mind thing. Freddie told us a woman got off the plane and had an attack so thy gave her oxygen, then she calmed down but they realized they never turned it on. It is hard walking around Cuzco the first day. The hike wasn't too bad. I never took more than 2 pills a day. I think you'll be fine.

4th day on da Inca Trail

Day 4- woke up at 3:30. Shame because it was the only night I can remember sleeping, and a lot warmer because it was the lowest altitude we slept. We arrived at the Sun Gate around 7. We wanted to keep moving but finally stopped at a look at for longer than 5 seconds so I put my contacts in, oh, that's what it looks like. Got down to Machu Pichu at like 830. Registered then toured around for what was supposed to be two hours, turned out more like over 3 hour tour. But it was amazing. A fascinating site. Cannot express how cool it was. Split up from the group, then met back down for drinks in Aguas Calientes. Said bye to the group- sad knowing well never see them again. Then we...um shopped...again. There's not much else to do. We bought fruit for dinner, and then just stuff. Train tomorrow to Ollantambo, or somethig like that.
Our legs hurt so bad we can barely walk. But it was such an accomplishment. Go us.

Inca trail 1-3 day 4 coming soon

Day one:
Absolutely fascinating.
Guide: he's awesome. Funny, nice, and super smart. He was telling us fascinating things about the Incas. Made me want to learn more. He does the trail about once a month. He's a history teacher. When he first met us, we were speaking Spanish, and he later confessed he thought I was from Argebtina with my accent. Ballin.
The group:
Steven and Bridgett- hilarious 50ish year old australian couple.
Steven and Bethany- she's a med grad student. From  alabama 
Paul and Mekayla- USC grads, now live in Rodondo Beach. 
All couples and us. Two of them met in college. Scary thought. They are alreAdy making fun of me... When we exchange stories it sounds like I have lots of fears. But there all legit! Bus tipping: the bus we saw in Thailand. Spiders: the spider that was in between toilet paper when I went in the middle of the night in Vietnam. Bees: that's just a gut feelig I'm alertic, and I'm not scared of them for the record, I just think I'm allergic.
The trek: sucks. Okay not really, but it's really hard. Today we walked the longest and after lunch Freddie, our guide said we should get a porter for the second half of the day. He told us that's the worst. And thank god we did, I think we'd still be out there otherwise. We've been spoiled though. It's back to carrying our stuff starting tomorrow.. 
I don't know about Charlotte, but I don't need to do this ever again. I just asked her her thoughts: not even if my kids begged me. It's tough. Dad, you have a porter, be thankful. It's really hot during the day and towards 4 the temperture drops. At the campsite it's freezing. Bring hats and gloves an warm socks. And a warm jacket. And headlamp! Michael (micheal? Haha just kidding) I should have taken yours, oh well. All we have is charlottes, that you have to continously twist for it to work....Agnes brillant solution to no bateries.
The sky tonight is absolutely beautiful. I know I have been in some remote places, but I don't think it's ever been this amazing. Mom- the great kite. It's there, I showed Charlotte.
Freddie gave me oxygen tonight. Apparently I've been having the symtoms of feeling the altitude. I've been complaining to Charlie that my upper lip has been tingly and numb, she accused me of sucking on the hallocigent flower "angel trumpet" that numbs ttys mouth... Silly French girl.
That's pretty much day 1. I feel a great sense of accomplishment, and I can feel my thighs and butt toning (score!!!!!)
Day2: omg hardest thing I've ever done in my life. The morning we hiked up to the highest point all trip: dead womans pass. Not very motivating. It's at 4200meters High, not exactly sure what that is in feet, somethig like 13000, reallyfreaking high. Then it was down to lunch. Down- not that easy. Dad- you should definitly invest in walking sticks, you can buy em in Cuzco for like 40 soles. Charlotte an I bought wooden ones but obviously their not retractable, we use them all the time but I think you guys well just want them for downhill. Also, look into those water backpack things, sometimes the effort to reach around and grab your water sounds like the hardest task in the world and it'll take energy you don't want to spend. After lunch it was up again. And it was brutal. We all wen our own pace. Charlotte was a head of me and the only thing keeping me going was she had the snacks and I was starving. It was so hard. Then it was down hill. Brutal. And the bugs. All over me. I hate bugs. We went to two archeological sites, pretty fascinating really.
Again, beautiful night sky, like I've never seen.
Day3: today was a lot of down. A lot. It was so painful and brutal. We only hiked until 1230, then we got to camp, but it was the longest mornig of my life. Downhill with our huge bags, the balance just isn't right, we went really slow. The camp site has showers and a bar. Charlotte and I decided the showers werent worth it, it'd be nice but probably gross and cold and well be at our hotel by 12 tomorrow. We also skipped the bar, 15 soles for a beer- no thanks. We walked to a site that was really close, again amazing, can't wait for Machu Pichu tomorrow, the mountain though, we can see from camp. Last dinner as a group. It was great. Freddie died laughing when I told everyone Charlotte thought she was so exhausted from the altitude when she was in Lima ( sea level). We also tipped our porters tonight. Everyone chipped in, but being the only one that spoke spanish out of the Gringos, I gave them the money and a little thank you "speech". We wake up tomorrow at 3:45 to be at the sun gate for sunrise and then off to Gringo Killer Pass then Machu Pichu. Hopefully well mAke it. We've come this far. 

Inca trail

Stupid site erased my blog post.
Summary:
out of touch for a bit as were on the hike for 4 days then have a couple more in the sacred valley then off to the Amazon...
You just never know. We really hope there are no bugs in the amazon or elsewhere. Can't stand bugs.
Cuzco ruins today. We were winded and the trail is gonna be 10 times worse. With packbacks. Luckly at our breifing the guy said he went slow. All other 6 are couples. Charlotte and I are the youngest and the only ones not dating. Interesting. I can't imagine what the appeal is going with your boyfriend, no shower for 4 dAys and the trail is just gonna show how out of shape you are. Micheal and Pablo are lucky.
Anyways, that's it. Speak with you soon!
Love from the last night in Cuzco,
Keila and Charlie

Cuzcooo

Cuzco. After a 20 hour paiNful bus ride, we did make it. It was... Interesting. The seats were like business class for an airplane. But still. At night the road was so windy and since I couldn't see out the window I was convinced we were just gonna tip over. So obviously I coulndtbsleep, Charlotte on the other hand just passed out. The French, fearless.
Driving to our hotel I couldn't believe we were gonna spend 3 nights here, it looked like actually the poorest place on earth. But the city center is actually really nice, reminds me of Italy. Our hotel has an awesome view, but it's on a hill, the bed are uncomfortable and you can never be certain if there is gonna be running water in the communal bathroom.
Walked around, hung out, did random things we needed to do yesterday. Yesterday the altixue was reAlly fine, we were wondering what all the fuss was about. Today. We thought we were onna die. Winded After walkin like down the street. But we
visited museums today ( sittig on benches for a good 30 minutes after each one). We ate a lot of the coca candy Charlotte bought, in an attempt to help with the drunken painful feeling we had all day. Sorta helpEd, it was probably all in our heads though.
Tomorrow were visiting ruins around Cuzco and getting preped for our 3 day hiking adventure. After walkig around town Charlotte and I aren't entirely convinced we won't die on the way to Machu Pichu...
Alright that's all!!!
P.s. I think it's only common curtesy to comment on our blog. We wriing so you know were alive an well; but what about us? It'd be nice to know people are actually reading... Otherwise we mght stop writing. It's a hassel on this little keyboard. (just kidding Tana would kill me upon return)

Off to Cusco

Hey everyone !

Keila and I are getting ready to check out of the hotel in Lima, and going to catch our bus for Cusco ! Yep, a 20 hour bus ride in the mountains. I can't tell you how much Keila is excited for this. Especially after a nice freezing cold shower.
So if you don't hear from us for a while, no worries, we'll probably just be following a few lamas on the road.
We'll tell you more about that when we arrive to Cusco !

Love from Charlotte and Keila, who's already sick just thinking about what awaits us. I on the other hand, enjoy the adventure. Wimp !

Lima, Peru

Hello everyone. Charlie and I have been safely reunited in Lima.
As many of you know I was delayed a day.
Today we visited this pervian ruin that is practically in the center of town. Like you're walking in the city and poof you're suddenly walking on 2000 year old ruins. Except not, cause you have to pay an entrance fee.
Then we walked to lunch where we ate traditional ceviche and curuas and the owner was Ceasar of Gstaad , look him he's a famous belt designer. Then we walked through the city to along a boardwalkn on a cliff above the ocean. Then we went to get drinks at some famous place where we tried the traditional Peruvian Pisco Sour. That was interesting. Luckily we only got one because besides being the most alcoholic beverage I've ever sipped (just kidding, I've never had alcohol...) it was a huge serving, that took the two of us more than hour to finish.
Then we, um, shopped. Sorry about it. Bought ourselves some traditional alpacah memorabilia.
Anyways this city is pretty cool, people are so nice, and police everwhere. On charlottes day alone, a police told her couldn't lay down on a bench. Trouble maker fRench girl.
so we won't have internet often but when we will expet more posts. Right now we are drinking coca tea that Charlotte thought was a good idea to buy four boxes of.
Love from Peru,
keila and Charlie

Northern Hemisphere

Hello Everyone!
Charlie and I are still in the northern hemisphere :[ Charlotte is already in the plane and I leave tomorrow morning.
South America awaits!