We Won Best of State!

I can't help myself-I had to take pictures of the place sittings and food of course. And seriously what were they thinking setting the dessert out with the salad? I ate it before my meal came ...oops.

Entertainment consisted of Alex Boye who is currently with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir but previously performed with N'SYNC, Backstreet Boys, Missy Elliot and few others-he was so fun and could dance like no other. The Crescent Super Band played some Big Band music and consisted of Utah High School Students- I'm buying their CD later this week. And then Thurl Bailey performed-not as cool as the other 2.

It was a great evening and an honor to win! We won 2009 Best of State for Commercial Building Services-Go Mountain Crane! I even ran into the Plyler Family who I babysat back in Temecula when I was 12. Plyler was the screen writer for the movie "Forever Strong" (Utah based Movie about the Highland H.S. Rugby team) which won Feature Film.

Dream Team: Paul, Uncle Vern, Lon and Big Dave

Machu Picchu

Over 187 homes, at least 3 temples and thousands of feet of farming.

Suicide farming if you ask me!

Paul and I, Strobell, Walker and Nate and Lindsey Haus

Takes your breath away!

Paul did really good with all the steps!!!

Temples of Machu Picchu

They had a Temple of the Sun , the Moon and Stars. The Temples had 3 windows each, 3 steps to the alters, one room looked like a baptismal font...many interesting ideas!

Stones to hold water...I love hearing the different theories.

Sacred Valley

The elevation is similar to Park City. The natives still farm the land even the mountains-amazing.

How cool that this river is the start of the Amazon River! I wish we had time to go to the Jungle I would have loved to see monkeys.

Ollantaytambo

Can anyone say stairs?

This was a fort the Incas had on top of a mountain with plenty of area for farming but it also looks like stadium seating for large congregations.

The square in the mountain was the food storage facility for all the grains. It was across the way and quite hard to get to -this way it was protected from the wind and enemies.

Chinchero

This is Alexander who I thought was darling-he was just playing with finger puppets while his mom sold items from her cart. This is probably my favorite picture. Plus I was really missing my boys.

Peru Mission Reunion

This is the Plaza in Lima Peru...amazing. We visited the catacombs (burial places beneath one of the Catholic churches-little creepy), the museum of the Inquisitions (a bit disturbing) and checked out a museum of the Incas Gold (way cool-thank goodness).

The Marriott we stayed at in Lima was clean and wonderful. There was even an outdoor mall across the street with a Tony Romas, Chilies and a Hooters who knew they were so Americanized. Paul said 13 years ago the streets were lined with trash so he almost didn't recognize the place.

We went down for Paul's Mission Reunion. The Mission President always hold one during the Spring General Conference for those who live in the Utah area and he also holds one for the Peruvians. Paul had the great idea to crash the Peruvian one so he could meet up with those he served with we were able to convince 5 other missionaries and some of their wives to join us. Needless to say we had a blast!

One of the sister missionaries Paul served with-

Peruvian Buddies!

Shots of Peru

Some funny Characters along the way.

Birds galore.

Paul was considered a giant to most of the Peruvians on his mission...its still true today.

Peruvians luv their football/soccer they even had fields on the beach.

Cusco, Peru

Down town Plaza

View from our Balcony

I once again scored with a fabulous hotel!

How did they know I have a sweet tooth for Marshmallows and macroons?

Sacsayhuaman...sounds like Sexy Woman

Sacsayhuaman is said to be shaped as Puma's head and the city of Cusco is the body. The rock stacking is unbelievable no mortar just perfectly placed and cut rocks.