I would have spent all day being depressed that this is our last full day in Cusco... but I was having such a marvelous time, I kept forgetting to be.
Ames and I got up and walked down to the square (which is pretty much how we do around here). We found the only open restraunt... which turned out to be a super cute bakery with the only decent coffee we've had since coming to Peru. Score. (If you're looking for an amazing business opportunity, come to Cusco and start a coffee shop that opens before 8 AM.)
We met up with Sara and Daniel and a bunch of his crazy Peruvian friends (who, by the way, are completely fabulous. They're all guides, so they have equipment to do absolutely everything amazing in the world, which they apparently do, all the time. Plus, they all know everything about everything). We drove for two hours through some fabulous mountians and valleys, and then went whitewater rafting. It was maybe my best part of the trip. It was sunny, there were great rapids, and like I said hilariously awesome company. Highlights included getting stuck on a giant rock, and Daniel scooping Amy up just in the nick of time.
After the rafting, we stopped by Daniel's aunt and uncle's house. We sat with them at the wedding and absolutely loved them. It's their "weekend" house... and it's the most gorgeous house I've ever been to. It's way up this mountian and there's a sacred stream from and ancient temple that runs through it, it's surrounded by a gorgeous garden that they are apparently constantly expanding. We had dinner and hung out with Daniel's brother Alex and his Mom, Dad, nephew, Aunt, and Uncle. I really didn't know what to expect when I signed up to come to Peruvian Wedding Extravaganza... but I never could have anticipated him being part of such an amazing family, they're seriously wonderful.
Sara's new life is going to be fabulous.
Amy and I dumped our stuff off in the room and spent the day walking around/exploring Miraflores. We visited our favorite "love" statue, and then walked down to this crazy mall on the cliffs above the ocean called Larcomar. They've got a long grassy parkstrip along the oceanfront in Lima... it would all be absolutely gorgeous if it wasn't so smoggy. It's still pretty nice. 
Looking adorable, as always.
Well, it's a wedding miracle (according to Missy.) No one except Matt had a hangover this morning, even after drinking a swimming pool's worth (at least) of Cusquena last night. We think poor Matt got all of ours. 
Oh, and Missy got chased by a vicious macaw. So it's not just me. 
It's wedding day minus one! and what a day. Let's see- we started off in Cusco. Sara and Miss had a nice, lazy morning over coffee (which I fetched from the plaza below), and I had a spectacular morning run through the Sachsayhuaman ruins above town. The altitude killed, but having the ruins to myself (and a few goats) was worth every labored breath.
Ran wedding errands all morning (well, Sara & Daniel did- Miss and I had a lovely walking tour of Cusco), and at some point, somebody fetched Matt from the airport, who proved to be a fun addition to our crazy wedding party. After a gorgeous lunch at Cicciolina's, we all had pre-wedding beer on the steps of the cathedral Plaza de Armas, and then it was off to Urubamba! and the Aranwa Spa. The spa is spectacular, with beautiful grounds and a view of the mountains, and we have it all to ourselves. Missy and I scored the best room of all (see left.)
Tonight, we got down to business. A tipsy Amy sewed up Sara's ripped wedding dress, and a tipsier Missy pulled together bouquets. Matt downed pisco sours and provided the sewing kit, and Sara waited until the eleventh hour to write her vows. Can't imagine drunk vows from the night before not being fabulous! I'm currently attempting to make her a garter from one of my thongs. (You don't want to know.) Nothing like last-minute wedding fun!
