TRAIL RUNNING
Scott returned to Machu Pichu in 2006 with wife Suzette
Scott and local runner / organiser Aberlardo
On our last day on the running circuit , there was a 10km run that returned us to our start point at Tinki . Appropriately called the Tinki Ten , this run was handsomely won by Devy ’ s chief assistant and partner from Cusco , Aberlardo . A strong , exceptionally good runner , this was his ‘ territory ,’ but I finished not too far behind him . We enjoyed magnificent alpine scenery and ran by small communities in remote Andean villages , passing herds of llamas , alpacas and their herders in colourful traditional clothing on the hillsides . Most speak no Spanish , only the ancient Quechua language . After we had all completed our run , we drove back to Cusco for a farewell dinner .
Finishing in Lima
The following day , we wrapped up our trip with a flight to Lima and a guided , two-day city tour . From April to December , a melancholy fog blankets the city ’ s skyline , and the early-morning temperatures are cold . With a population of more than 10 million , situated on the central coastal part of the country , Lima is the political , cultural , financial and commercial capital of the country . Over-population has earned the city a hardened reputation as a polluted , frenetic city hemmed in by impoverished shanty towns , but it has a wonderful colonial architecture , the country ’ s best museums , historic churches and stately mansions .
An archaeological site , Huaca Pucallana , served as an important ceremonial and administrative centre for the advancement of the Lima culture . The plaza ’ s oldest building is the cathedral , containing the coffin and remains of Pizarro . There is also an exquisitely balconied archbishop ’ s palace nearby , and at one end , the Peruvian president ’ s palace . We also shopped in the upmarket district of Miraflores , which also has some exquisite and world-famous gourmet restaurants , with typical dishes including guinea pig ( cuy ), cerviche , quinoa and numerous types of sweet potatoes .
And so , my journey to Peru wrapped up . Without exception , everyone in our travel group had enjoyed the trip . No matter what their objectives had been : Running the Inca Trail , visiting Machu Picchu , Cusco , or any of the other Inca archaeological sites , without exception , we had blended exceptionally well and had enjoyed each other ’ s company , making new friends on the way . I had enjoyed the whole ambience and adventure tremendously , and would return in 2006 to run it again , this time with Suzette .
The Inca Trail often seems to wind towards the sky
The city was founded by Pizarro in 1535 , and during colonial times , it became the continent ’ s richest and most important town . The historic centre was declared a World Heritage site by Unesco in 1988 , and a few examples of colonial architecture include the Monastery of San Francisco , the Plaza de Armas , the cathedral , the Convent of Santo Domingo , and the Palace of Torre Tagle . There are many churches dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries , and at the sanctuary of Las Nazarenas , there are the remains of old walls , and examples of medieval Spanish fortifications that defended the city from attacks by pirates . In the basilica and Convent of San Francisco , dating from 1673 , there are an estimated 25,000 bodies in catacombs , which served as a burial place until the early 19th century . The convent ’ s library is extensive , and the church is noted for its architecture .
The Monastery of San Francisco in Lima
The ancient ruins of Huaca Pullanan in Lima
About the Author
Scott McIvor ( 67 ) originally hails from Scotland and is now retired and living in South Africa . He is an accomplished mountain climber , having successfully completed the Seven Summits challenge in 2002 ( climbing the highest peak on each of the seven continents ). In 1993 , he became the 506th person to summit Everest in 1993 , becoming the 506th person to do so . He is also an accomplished runner , and has completed 270 marathons and ultras in 37 countries , with a marathon best of 2:47:41 . In 2015 , he participated in the inaugural Triple Seven Challenge in 2015 , attempting to run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days , but adverse weather conditions flying into Antarctica from the mainland prevented the achievement of the overall objective .
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