Cusco Day Before Flights Home

Thursday, May 29
Cusco to Lima
San Blas walking 3.88 miles
Friday, May 30
Lima to Los Angeles
LAX to San Francisco
SFO to Arcata

I sleep really well and don’t wake up until just after 6 am. One final shower for the next few days before my last Muru Homely Hotel breakfast. It’s a bit hazy but Apu Ausangate is visible this morning to bid me farewell. I leave a small offering for housekeeping of my Cantua flowers, snacks, passion fruit and a tip. Check out is 10 am so I get all my bags downstairs and then they store them for me.

Since I’ve got the day to wander I head out about 10:30 am. I still need to get some more chocolate bars with Mara salt.

I go through Plaza de Armas but then head off onto some new streets to look around. I go into a few jewelry stores with questions about a necklace picture I have but there is definitely a language barrier. I look around the shops but don’t see anything like my picture. I manage to find the Paka store where they sell clothing made from traceable Peruvian alpaca wool. I check out all their stuff and there’s a full zip hoodie that I really like. They also have a little coffee shop and a balcony with seats. But I resist the temptation and leave the store to wander around some more.

I find the main ChocoMuseo store and they’ve got a lot more selection that the other little store that I’ve gone to several times. They have a huge area where they’re making different kinds of chocolate. They also offer cooking classes and there’s a cafe and courtyard to stop and enjoy some treats. They have samples and I try some amazing chocolate cream liquor. I also add to my basket chocolate bars with Mara salt, jars of mango and pineapple chocolate spread and a Drama Llama cocoa porter. At the register they’re super helpful and wrap my glass items so they’ll be safe inside my checked luggage.

I continue uphill and make my way to the Plaza San Francisco where there are lots of local vendors set up. Most of the stuff is all kind of the same but I do find one woman who is selling hand-knitted mittens. Ever since my frozen hands on the Ausangate Trek, I’ve been wanting to find some fingerless gloves with the mitten part that comes over the fingers or convertible glove. I find a pair that fits as we have a nice chat. I also stop at the vendors that are selling shirts as I search for one with long sleeves. No one has any. And then I find one and it’s got Machupicchu on it and that will have to do!

I’m still thinking about the Paka sweater so I fork off from the Plaza de Armas and return to the store. When I scan the QR code to trace where the alpaca came from the Paka website wants me to sign up for 10% off. The store honors the discount and I purchase a lovely light-green zippered hoodie. It’s made with alpaca wool on the exterior and organic cotton on the interior. Turns out that the pull tab on the zipper was made in Chinchero. They have very cool Ausangate t-shirts but only in size 3X.

I get back to Muru Hotel about 2:30 pm and hang out in the lobby. I warm water for oatmeal and drink my chocolate porter. Porters aren’t my favorite and it would have been a bit better chilled slightly.

Ronnie and Luna pick me up at 7 pm for my 9:35 pm flight. My first flight is just a domestic flight to Lima. When I booked my Latam tickets, for some reason, it wasn’t very much extra to get business class seats. So checking my bags is quick and security is easy enough. I try to get into the lounge but they say I have to purchase a different ticket to get in. Bummer. I wait until it’s time to board and since it’s a small plane there’s not really a business class section but in the front they do leave empty seats. The few people in front are given water and some snacks and then we wait a really long time before finally taxing out. We wait so long that I’m getting worried about making my next flight in Lima. Upon landing in Lima, I haul ass to my next gate and luckily it’s also slightly delayed and is just about to start boarding. I have a few soles left and find a shop where I buy some yummy Peruvian potato chips like I was given on the previous flight.

After our midnight takeoff, a lovely dinner is served.

Flying into LAX. Immigration control is quick and then I wait and wait and wait for my checked luggage. I wait so long that I’m sure that my two bags are not going to arrive. And then magically my orange suitcase and maroon Mountain Gods Peru duffel bag appear and I am SO relieved. After rechecking my bags, I start walking towards Delta, with which Latam subcontracts. Yikes, someone is getting arrested along the airport roadway.

A few more steps and then I’m warmly welcomed at a Delta Lounge entrance. Once my ticket is verified, I’m allowed to enter and they immediately give me little bottles of juice and a few snacks. I use the restroom and then round the corner to find a security check point. I’m the only person there and send my bags right through. Wow! I take the elevator to the third floor and get off into a massive lounge. There are tables, seating at the bar and an outdoor balcony area as well. The balcony area is nice but kind of loud with jet engine noise. I find a table just inside the big windows. Croissant breakfast sandwich and all the treats. Yum!