Day two, first day in Cusco May 22nd 2022

We arrived in Lima early in the morning on Sunday, May 22nd, 2022. Between the four of us we know just a few phases in Spanish. We were lucky that the Peruvian people are understanding with English speaking tourists and multiple Lima airport employees helped us get in the correct line for customs, security, and to the correct gate for our Cusco flight around 9am. We had time to use the bathroom and discovered that in Peru you do not flush toilet paper, anywhere, ever. Fortunately, there are signs and bathroom attendants that help navigate these rules. I bought a bottle of water with my credit card, relived that it worked. I called my credit card company a few days prior and notified them that I would be traveling, and husband was at home on alert if I had any issues. There was free Wi-Fi in the Lima airport. I used the WhatsApp to contact my husband, Jack and this worked well. My ATT plan also covered international data use with a $10 daily fee. Over 13 days I used my data plan for three days at a cost of $30 US dollars extra. Being able to use free Wi-Fi at hotels, airports, and cafes with WhatsApp to text saved me some money. I spent my savings on the amazing souvenirs that the local craftspeople offer.
The third plane was regional commuter from Lima to Cusco. My duffle was gate checked and I was able to keep my daypack with me. They served quinoa treats on the plane that tasted like a chocolate raisin Krispy treat. The morning sky was clear and the sights from the plane were outstanding. I saw vast desert that then met incredible mountain ranges. I was a great introduction for this trip of a lifetime. 
We exited the plane and picked up our gate checked luggage without issue. The Cusco airport is very small with just a few gates, it was easy to navigate. Once outside we were greeted by our guide, Ayul Acuna and our driver. Ayul was direct and friendly, telling us what we needed to know for the rest of this day as well as what to expect in the coming days. Our driver stowed our bags and provided water to us. Ayul advised that we needed to drink plenty of water over the next few days. He also let us know that we would be starting our tour at 2pm today. It was around noon, and we all were a bit sleep deprived and looking forward to a rest and maybe some lunch. Ayul went through our day, explaining that to acclimate we needed to move and walk the city of Cusco. We checked into the San Agustin Plaza Hotel, washed up, took a short nap before meeting back up with Ayul at 2pm. We visited the famous Temple of the Sun which was super close to our hotel and had an early dinner at Chulls near the Temple of the Sun. The Temple of the Sun was jaw-droppingly ornate, probably the most photographed building in Cusco due to its Incan history. The foundation and some of the walls are Incan/pre-Incan and have withstood the test of time with many earthquakes. Modern structures may fall but these ancient stones expertly crafted with primitive tools still stand as the foundation of the city of Cusco. Ayul was an excellent historian, explaining each area that we entered with scientifically agreed on facts, theories, and Ayul’s “point of view” as an expert. Ayul was quick to inform us that Inca means leader and there were 16 Inca’s that ruled over a vast territory of over 2,000 miles. The indigenous people are not Incan but Quechua people. They speak Quechua as their primary language, and some speak Spanish as well. Most of our porters and support staff for our treks speak Quechua. Ayul taught us a few Quechua words over the trek to address our porters in the coming days.
Chulls was a delightful restaurant. At Ayul’s suggestion we all had lighter meals of soup and salad. My soup was huge! A vegetable soup with quinoa, potatoes, and an egg. I also had a local beer which tasted good after the long day. We had not exchanged money yet, but Chulls accepted credit cards. I used my credit card when I could so that I could conserve my currency and get the best exchange rate.
After Chulls we walked with Ayul to the Plaza de Armas. Ayul giving highlights of the city along the way. At the end of our tour, around 6pm, we stopped into a western union to exchange dollars to soles. It was an easy process with a small fee. Ayul advised to only exchange what we would need for spending money which was great advice. The American dollar is accepted frequently along with credit cards for larger purchases. Soles are great for small items and pay toilets.
We parted ways with Ayul at our hotel. Ayul explained that he would return at 9 a.m. tomorrow for a full day tour of the city and archaeological sites. I was excited for tomorrow’s adventure but exhausted and thus went right to bed at 7:30 p.m.