3 of 3: Machu Picchu

After Matt and Edith's wedding, we left Cusco for two days for the town of Aguas Calientes to visit Machu Picchu. 

Called "City of the Incas," Machu Picchu is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Saying it was impressive is an understatement. 

Machu Picchu is thought to have been home to about 600 Incas during the 15th century. The city was abandoned by the Incas after 100 years or so and was an overgrown jungle until 1911.

                                                                Day 1 Machu Picchu:

                                                                Geoff, Brye and Eri

At the train station. Machu Picchu is on a mountain
ridge in the Urubamba Valley, which is about
50 miles northwest of Cusco, where the Andes
and the rainforest meet. 

Eri was so excited to go for a ride on Thomas the Train.

The three-hour train ride from Cusco was a lot of fun and another
good way to see more of the area. The train was comfortable and entertaining with dancing and a fashion show.

The food was really good, too.

Are we there yet? Nope, gotta take a bus, too.

It's a 20 minute bus ride from the town
of Aguas Calientes to Machu Pichu.

Entering the city with our guide.

Standing in front of Waynapicchu, which Geoff and
his brother Mark hiked the following day.

Day 2 Waynapicchu:

Geoff and Mark

                                                               Day 2 Machu Picchu:
                    Geoff, Brye and Eri with Greg, Margy, Mark, Matt, Edith and Baby Joaquin

2 of 3: Peruvian Wedding & Events

A true glimpse of Peruvian culture was Matt and Edith's beautiful wedding. It was an elegant, elaborate reception and church ceremony. Definitely one of the nicest we've ever been to, and also a lot of fun. We were able to spend time with Edith's family and friends, who were warm and welcoming, and we all were really excited to be a groomsman/bridesmaid/flowergirl. The wedding celebration was a weekend-long party, starting with the rehearsal and dinner, wedding, and then a Sunday dinner at the bride's parents' home.

The rehearsal dinner.

Cousins! Eri and Baby Joaquin sleeping at dinner.

Eri getting her hair done before the wedding. She also
had her first manicure for the occasion and chose red polish.

What a big girl!  She was very well-behaved during the Aqua
Net and bobby pinning process.

Eri was excited to wear a white dress, "just like Aunt Edith."

The flowergirl and the groom.

Explaining the flower-sprinkling duties was somewhat confusing for Eri.
It was even more confusing for the wedding planner when we explained
that Eri would need help down the aisle because she doesn't understand
directions in Spanish and she's 2. 

Last minute adjustments.

With the dapper groom.

Right before the entire basket was dumped at Edith's feet.

Watching "the part where they get married."

Our new sister.

What a lucky guy.

The newlyweds' entrance at the reception and
Matt impressively giving a speech in perfect Spanish.

Dinner entertainment was native dancing.

The first dance.

Geoff with the bride; Brye and Eri in the back with the groom.

This guy and girl were the equivalent of the singles who catch the
garter and bouquet at American weddings, though we're not sure the
relationship lasted much longer than the next few hours. 

They couldn't cut this thing fast
enough for a certain someone. (Not Eri.)

Eri and Geoff on the dance floor.

Just the girls dancin'.

Brothers and groomsmen.

Day-after-the-wedding party at the bride's parents home.

Doin' some handy work in the backyard with Uncle Mark.

Trying to soak up as much Baby Joaquin time as we can.

Eri and her new amiga.

The first time for our Peruvian friend to eat
Macaroni and Cheese and the 1,736th time for Eri.

The Magic Cuy Game. A guinea pig (cuy) is placed in the center box,
surrounded by 10 numbered boxes with little openings.

Bets are placed by picking the number of the box you
think the cuy will run into.

Eri, who has just learned to identify numbers,
was excited to place the coins on the boxes for people. We were happy to show her
important real-life application, such as gambling. 

When all bets are placed, the cuy is made sufficiently dizzy and the box is lifted. 

The suspense in the crowd is palpable.

The cuy runs into a box and the winner gets his payday.

El Magico Cuy and his bookie.

When they're not earning a buck, the cuy are man-handled by kids,
both of which are better than what happens later (see the Peruvian cuisine notes.)

The two newest members of the Steeves family.
(Cute hat, sister.)