Except the buildings made of solid stone blocks, dirt blocks are used in Cuzco. Dirt, straw and water are the only ingredients. The walls all have roofs to preserve the blocks. Without protection, they will last 5 years, I´m told.

Next to the control station at the entrance to Cuzco. Later I will find out what the survival issue is when I begin trekking the Andes

The landscape from the highway is impressive with farms on the slopes. My friend told me that it is much like Switzerland. Trees are small and rare. The locals don't heat and cook on propane. With no fires and few diesel vehicles there is no smog in the valley.

This is a good luck ornament above the roof of many homes. The locals always looked puzzeled when I asked several to exlain it. It also drives away evil spirits.
The same.

The bus stations are clean, modern and efficient. The US needs to get right with their stations and bus service.

Luxery buses. I was served dinner and the next morning breakfast. It was a 20 hour bus ride from Lima to Cuzco, where my hike to Machu Piccu will begin.

These are desert dunes, eight stories high and solid as compacted gravel. And they run for 100s of miles. Not a cactus, blade of grass or a human footprint.

My bus.

Price per liter in soles, which run about 290 to the dollar. You do the math.

The Spanish Inquisicion got all the way to the colonies in the Americas. As the Latins threw off the Spanish rulers, they also rejected the Inquisicion for several good reasons. One of which was that it was a political tool of the Spanish rulers.

In the end, the Free Masons triumped and to this day are prominent.

This sign reads, It is prohibited to write on the doors and walls! O yea, otherwise we thought it was OK? However, it must work. There was no writing.
This signs informs us to save the environment and put the toilet paper in the trash can. After that, it is collected, carefully box and sent to the capital for printing the laws.

Planning is required. There is one dispensor, so get your paper before entering your office.

Chinatown in Lima, Peru! And the city buses have the route name also in Chineese. Much like San Francisco, but smaller.

Downtown Lima again. Photo of the traffic. Huge with a high percentage of taxis. The city has a campaign going to encourage the citizens to take buses. Buses are also prolific.

Because the national assembly is in session, there were cops and soldiers everywhere. I saw no rioters. The sides can swing forward and create a screen fence. Otherwise, the sides are back to protect the cab.

Here is your standard water truck to make sure the rioters keep it clean.

I guess these officers were on break, so I got an easy photograph. Other places there were dozens and some horseback. Those horseback were all women.

Welcome to Lima!! The taxi ride to the hostel was an education in what is possible in a motorized vehicle! Speeding, going the wrong way, on the sidewalks, down the shoulder!

My hostel costs $6 a night. So how can one complain about anything? And the shower is hot! Breakfast is encluded-- roll, jam, banana and coffee.

Thirsty? (I look pretty damn good at 62 years old!)

School kids in the capital. This is downtown!!