Peru...cooking lessons, Macho Pichu and more

Machu Pichu and Peruvian highlights

new friends

The trillion tourists all leave after 3pm, and only the guests of the Sanctuary Lodge remain...this is when you have the whole place to yourself, there is nothing like the atmosphere of this sacred place you share with only a lama or two!

water features in Machu Pichu

This is what you do!!! Arrive in Lima and get out as quickly as possible...fly to Cusco and take a taxi immediately to Urumbamba in the Sacred Valley. This allows you to descend immediately to a lower elevation and avoid altitude sickness.  I loved the Tambo del Inca hotel, and you will too!
Onto Machu Pichu by train and stay at the Machu Pichu Sanctuary Lodge if you can, or down in Aquas Caliete at the Machu Pichu Pueblo Lodge.

Visit Ollantaytambo, it is magnificent

http://www.ollantaytambo.org/en/

                                        my guide Natalie +51 984 754 658 was brilliant for the whole trip.

Traditional garb

At the Market in Urumbamba we found at least 100 varieties of potato! 

Enjoy a Pisco sour or here a coca sour!!

Pisco

I booked a cooking lesson with  Pio Relax at El Huatacay in Urumbamba... He is a cutie! We made Causa, and Alpaca tenderloin after and drank coca sours all through the lesson!!

Causa the national dish of Peru

Alpaca is so delicious

we added these broad beans to the quinoa

Yummy!

Back in Cusco

in Cusco we went to the chocolate factory

and to the central market

Bay area Bliss!!

Bi- Rite market sells them but my friend Julie PICKS them ...chanterelles ahhh!!!

Nancy Oakes

http://www.boulevardrestaurant.com/chef.html

and my friend Beth Strakian

http://www.sonic.net/beths/about_beth.htm

...2 of the best chefs in San Francisco..here beth does rolls

and Beth and Rob make Paella in Bolinas...

4th of July in Bolinas and the next morning Robs eggs with tortillas

Crab Feast to raise money for Marin Organic "Bring forth the New Year Party"

best bar in San Francisco...Alembic on Haight Street

Delfina in the Mission serves 'fries with eyes'

Zuni Cafe's roast chicken with fried bread and sultanas and greens is the best dish in SF bar none

Best Pizza in San Francisco ...a very tough decision.... at Pizetta 211..their Marguerita with anchovies and dollops of Pistou!!!

Delarosa has the best root salad and cocktails

Cafe Fanny in Berkeley is a favorite..

.but nothing beats the view

and BBQing at home!!

Fishing eating and seeing some skirt in Scotland

The Highland games in Ardross, very serious

I could eat one of those bacon baps too...

Head to Sutherland game to pick up lunch for one day...

The mushrooms are picked that morning and grilled for lunch with sausages from the butcher in Bonar Bridge on the fire pit at the bothy by the river..

May skip the cullen skink!!