Machu Picchu with 'Los Gringitos'

Well, we are back! Whew...what a trip! We had an amazing time, it almost feels like we didn't even go, that it was all a dream. Of course, to dream, you usually sleep, and really we didn't get a whole lot of that in Peru. But who cares, we got to go to Machu Picchu! We left our new camera in Lima, where we stayed for one night before flying to Cuzco. Luckily, we brought our 3-year old digital camera, just in case our newer one got stolen...or left behind. The hotel staff found it right when we called them and held it for us till we returned, so that was good. They even left us a nice little video on it as a souvenir of our stay.

Nuala making friends in Lima

Cuzco from the train

Cuzco was an awesome city! We wish we could have stayed there longer. We saw some ruins nearby and enjoyed the city square and giant cathedral. Also in Cuzco we first became aware of what true celebrities we are. Okay, what celebrities the babies are. It's kinda rare to see such little whiteys there, especially cute little twins with blondish hair and big blue eyes. They attracted attention everywhere, and we were often mobbed by Peruvian locals and tour groups where everyone wanted a photo of "los gringitos." Sometimes it was such a big spectacle that other American/European tourists took pictures of the mobs of Bran and Nuala groupies. Too funny! Nuala and Bran basked in it all. Nuala was super social, as usual, and grinned her big scrunchy-nose grin at everyone. Bran was a little more reserved, but still pretty smiley. They made so many friends and got too many kisses to count. Good thing we're not all that germaphobic. We also met up with Uncle Randy and Aunt Pat in Cuzco. Aunt Pat gave us chocolate chips. Ghirardelli Dark. We love Aunt Pat. We went to church there in Cuzco, we really enjoy going to local wards, and we met some nice people.

Saying goodbye to Pat and Randy in Aguas Calientes

Monday we took the train to Aguas Calientes, the little town by Machu Picchu. On the way, the babies made a bunch of friends, especially with some Japanese tourists. Zachariah talked with them a bunch, and then couldn't speak Spanish for a while. Poor guy...the perils of being trilingual...We met up with Pat and Randy again and went to lunch right before they headed back to Cuzco.

Mmmm...cuy. Can you see its teeth?

We tried the cuy, or guinea pig, and also alpaca. Nuala and Bran tried both also, we can't wait to tell them in a few years when they or their friends have pet guinea pigs that they once ate a cute little guy and liked it!

The bus up to Machu Picchu had to have been one of the best parts of the entire trip!!! It took 20 minutes up the side of a steep mountain. What a view!!! Seriously, that view alone was worth taking the trip. Okay, not really, but almost. WOW.

Bus road snaking up the mountain in the background

The first day we went to the ruins, they were shrouded in mist. We were able to stand above the city and just watch as the bottoms of the clouds skimmed over the top of the mountains, drifting through the remains of Machu Picchu. It was beautiful.

We went back the next day, too, as we were taking things slowly because of the two celebrities -- I mean babies -- who were with us. It was a clear, sunny day, and we got to see lots of llamas wandering about the ruins. Bran was especially pleased with that. He would grunt and stick his arm out any time he spotted one.

Both days we let the babes go free for a while to somewhat get the wiggles out. They loved to climb up on the big rocks, especially Nuala. She was like a little mountain goat, we kept thinking she was going to fall and would rush to save her, but she was stuck to the rock like gum on a shoe.

Overall, it was a wonderful trip, we feel very blessed that we were able to go! We were all excited to get home, though, especially the two celebrities who missed their toys and their beds. Of course we took tons of pictures, if you want to see more, click here.