Day 13

And ths has to be THE most amazing so far.

We left Cusco at nine and followed the road we had taken yesterday to the sacrifice labyrinth.

Then before the Sacred Valley we visted the royal cleansing site at Tambomachay where I had met Nely .. remember Ma I looked simple in the photo? ... Jose our guide recognised her photo, she is in hospital but we mer her brother and daughter ... gret jubilatons ... bought an incan calendar and they gave ua presents of two scarves. Wait for the photos! And we left with Jacinto saying "Que dios les bendiga" "God bless you."

From there we went to Awana Kancha which is a community of severl families who rear llamas and so on. We were able to feed the nimals, then to see some of the dyeing process. All very thoughtfully set out. Needless to say the visit ended at the shop -beautiful stuff. Quote "Cn we just get to the Sacred Valley and leace Marks & Spencers behind?"

We forgot to tell you hat in our 5* hotel last night, our blanket was trimmed with satin on all four sides!

We checked into our next hotel - wait for the photos!

Lunch: we sat down but the tour director had disappeared. So was here a price limit to what we could order? We all st there wondering BUT we were able to choose whatever we wanted from each of the three courses, and it was wonderful.

The downside was tht after only half an hour we were off again, this time to see the sacred temple at ollantayambo, 500 or so steps up!! But it was worth it - huge granite blocks more than 6 feet high were plced together to collect the correct light from the sun at the solstices and equinoxes, the stones having been carried from one mountain, across a valley and up another hill, a distance of about 4 miles! Boy were the Incas devoted to their gods!

Machu Picchu tomorrow - wow! Going o read e-mails. Have YOU sent anything? x x x x