Currently, everyone is back at our hotel after a beautiful day exploring Machu Picchu.  We hiked all around the sacred site and learned so much from our tour guide, Alfredo, who also works in Pastoral Ministries with the Quispicanchi Project.  We had lunch together in Aguas Calientes, the town where busses to Machu Picchu launch and enjoyed the beautiful scenery on the train ride between Agua Calientes and Ollantaytambo, our current base camp.  

Yesterday, after we landed in Cusco, we were treated to a brief tour of Cusco City, including a visit through Templo de la Compania de Jesus, a Jesuit church in the city center.  We also toured the Maras Salt Mines, sourced by the Manatial salt water spring.  By the time we were eating dinner, several of us had been awake for more than 24 hours and I consider it a small miracle that no one dozed off in their alpaca stew.  

So far, the hospitality and culture has been absolutely breath-taking.  We're looking forward to moving on to phase two of our trip tomorrow: our work with the Quispicanchi Project.  More to come!