Machu Picchu!

Peru...Whew!  We arrived in Cuzco, Peru.  We spent our first day cruising around the old city.  Our hotel set us up on a tour of the city with a "Spanglish" speaking guide.   He took us around to a few famous churches in the city, some Inca ruins, and a alpaca factory (Peru's national animal).  When we were touring the first cathedral our tour guide explained, "This is the most important cathedral in all of South America.  This is the most important painting of Christ in all of South America.  This is the most important replica of 'The Last Super" in all of South America."  Then we moved on to the next cathedral and ruins when Matt leaned over to me and said, "Have you noticed that everything on this tour is the Mas Importante?" (Most Important).  We thought it was pretty funny!  So now we are saying it about the most insignificant things, "This is the most important chair, lunch, pool in all of South America" ect.

 Getting to Machu Picchu is no easy task.  The next day was pretty exhausting, a two hour bus ride, a two hour train ride, and then a death defying hair pin turning speed bus straight up the mountain.  Anyone who has made this trek shouldn't find it surprising that Machu Picchu wasn't discovered until 1911, given it's lofty location.  During my research I was alarmed by a side note in an article about the Incan ruins.  Apparently Machu Picchu is sinking everyday, and they are expecting a catastrophic mudslide to happen any day.  Great.  I tried to put this out of my head.  I kept thinking, "The scientists have also been predicting a devastating earthquake to happen any day in Salt Lake for as long as I can remember, it still hasn't happened.  I'm sure everything will be fine."  But, keep in mind it hasn't stopped raining hard in three days.  As we started the final leg of our journey, (straight up a mountain, hairpin turns) we rounded a sharp corner, and then I saw it.  A MUDSLIDE!  As if this scary bus ride wasn't enough.  Matt could tell my anxiety was peeking.  He tried to clam me, "Babe, this is more like a baby mudslide."  Please.  The first portion of our tour was freezing, it was raining and really windy.  After about 30 minutes all the rain and fog cleared out and it turned into a beautiful day.  The ruins were really amazing, we learned a lot about the history and discovery of the site.  It's pretty crazy how much of the history of the Inca's has been lost.  Some of the stones were so large, it's mind boggling imagining how the Incas built such advanced cities with limited technology.  Obviously we made it through the mudslide and we are on to Colombia!  I'm missing everyone so much, thanks for the support and the great e-mails.  Matt is pretty stoked to show me his old stomping grounds in Colombia.  Chao!