Returning to Cusco

My journey began like all others, a very early drive to SeaTac International Airport. After checking in and dropping off my bag I headed to the Delta Sky Club for some breakfast. Although no Bloody Marys this morning as for the last two weeks I was eating and drinking clean in preparation for meeting San Pedro. I flew to Atlanta and grabbed a light lunch while I watched the planes.

I was excited for my flight to Lima as this would be my first time to check out the Delta One product. When I first saw their seats I thought they were a bit on the small side. However, once I fully reclined and snuggled up with their Westin Heavenly bedding I had no problem drifting off to sleep.



Of course that was after I reviewed the menu and ordered dinner.

For starters we had a lovely Porcini Mushroom Soup, Cara Cara Orange Salad, and Skewered Beef Asado. Along with some grape juice that may have turned.

For my main I enjoyed the Lacquered Roast Chicken Breast served over black truffle risotto.

A quick cheese platter before turning in for the remainder of the flight.

This was my third trip to Peru and I was quickly reminded how bad the flight schedules from the U.S. are as I arrived and cleared customs around 1am. My flight to Cusco was not until 9am and my original plan was to find a corner to get some rest. While my mind still has the playfulness and endurance of a 24 year old unfortunately my body does not. So instead I walked across the street to Costa del Sol Wyndham and got a room for the night, or at least what was left of the night.

After my "nap" I returned to the airport and caught my flight to Cusco on LC Peru. I didn't know it at the time of booking but LC Peru is the Peruvian version of the American airline Spirit. The seats are reminiscent of the folding chairs you would find on patios in the 1970s and there is a general smell of urinals. I had a window seat and the two seats next to me were empty. We took off and I drifted off to sleep. When I woke up I was surprised to find there was now a person sitting next to me with his arm stretching across me holding a video camera pointed out the window. I looked at him and he said something to me in Spanish that I did not understand. I then said something to him in English which he did not understand. We smiled at each other and then I waited until we got to the gate before he finally turned off the damn video camera.

With a raging headache from both my sinuses and the altitude of 11,200 feet at Cusco I checked in to Sonesta Hotel. I would be meeting everyone in the lobby the next morning, but for now all I could do was try and get some sleep while I adjusted to the thin air.