Two nights before the quake struck in Peru we were whiling away time at Mira Flores in Lima waiting for our flight back to New York; apparently a few people have lost their lives in that area of Lima. I do hope Lisa, Elena and David - part of the group who extended their stay in Peru - are safe and having a great time in the jungle and at the Nazca lines (update - they are OK).

Peru is simply a fantastic experience, everything about it is unique and unforgettable - friendly and welcoming people, a juxtaposition of cultures, old and new architecture, the elevation and mountains, endless steps, trails and vistas, a variety of food and pisco, exquisite art and handicrafts, exotic alpacas and llamas.

I hope the pictures will give you some sense : of the great set of folks I shared the adventure with; of Cusco, capital of the Inca civilization; of hiking and camping the ancient, arduous Inca trail; of the mystical, magical Machu Picchu; of serene Lake Titicaca, highest navigable lake in the world; of Peru's people, food, flora, wildlife, art and architecture.

Note - The pictures are arranged based on the date taken; so you will find pictures in the following order - in and around Cusco (Page 1), the Inca trail and Machu Picchu (Page 11) and Lake Titicaca (Page 20)

I will get around to captioning and describing the pictures in due course, meanwhile, do leave behind your thoughts and comments below; Gracias!