http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Ibu/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Ibu en-us Thu, 31 Dec 2009 07:34:57 +0000 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 07:34:57 +0000 STILL IN QUITO TRYING TO WITHDRAW ALL THE MONEY ..... I haven't made it to the Galapagos Islands yet but I'm hanging in there. The banks in Quito are very South American in their attitude. Although I'm supposed to be able to draw up to 5000 daily from my account there is a daily withdrawal limit which the banks here have placed on the type of Visa card that I have which is 200 per day. I http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-162432.html I have finally realised the second of my lifelong dreams walking the Machu Picchu Trail and when I think back over my 3 months here in Cuzco I realise that for me it has been a big learning curve. The experience has shown me just how fortunate we are to live in a country like Australia. Seeing a darker side of life which is the reality for so many of the local people makes me very thankful http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-170766.html I've just completed another of my lifelong ambitions to walk the Camino del Inca the ancient stone paved road up through the Andes mountains to the Lost City of the Incas and it feels so good to have finally achieved this dream ... on Wednesday we left Casa Azul at 6.30am weighed down with assorted duffle bags tents sleeping bags mattresses backpacks and daypacks and walked down the ma http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-153834.html My Bed and Breakfast La Casa Azul or The Blue House in San Blas is a really good place to stay. San Blas is the Artists quarter and set up high in Cusco. The family members are all involved in the running of this 'homeawayfromhome. I couldnrsquot have asked for a better place to stay because the family is all very welcoming and friendly especially Mamacita the matriach of the family. La http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-148689.html Finally my spoken spanish is slowly improving with the help of my daily 2 hour lessons and copious homework. Although I often suffer from brain fatigue and smoke curling out of my ears itrsquos really enjoyable and both my grammar and conversational teachers are very good. Our lessons are often on the rooftop patio overlooking the stunning view of Cusco below and the Andes Mountains surround http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-143432.html IT IS POSSIBLE especially if one travels from Madrid to Lima Peru via Sao Paulo Airport in Brazil and then straight onto the Lima connectionI arrived here in Cusco on Tuesday at 1pm and my companions since then have been a virulent cold and an altitude headache The getting here was something else as well I left the Hostel in Madrid at 7am in the morning still dark and very cold at that time http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-135688.html My small suitcase and I left the Hostel in Seville in the dark and walked the 20 minutes to the Bus Station to journey up to Madrid. The Spanish countryside in general is interesting and in a lot of places very beautiful. It took us 6 hours to travel up to Madrid and was a comfortable trip. We were 1 12 hours out of Madrid when I saw 3 round white windmills with their green pointed caps and lar http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-133818.html This comes to you from The Blue House set high up in the San Blas area which is a really nice part of Cusco with a stunning view over the city. I'll be here until the 5th April when I fly to Quito Ecuador. Irsquom not going anywhere else in Peru because I love it here. And with my daily morning Spanish Lessons and afternoon Volunteer work at the orphanage from 3 to 7pm also 5 day http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-141226.html I have so enjoyed being here and regret that tomorrow I will be travelling on to Seville although I look forward to discovering more of Spain's wealth her beautiful old cities.On my last afternoon here some of us walked along the river which flows between old stone walls. Along the paths which follow the river at the foot of the walls we saw a flock of large geese slowly treading the muchuse http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-130383.html Walking around the Alhambra has truly been the highlight of my trip so far. Seen from afar it's mellow red walls and simple but imposing structure does not give any clue to the wealth of the various cultures who have inhabited it over the ages. Granada is surrounded by rolling mountain ranges and the Alhambra sits solidly high on the side of a very steep hill and meanders down the slopes havin http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-130352.html The first overnight train ride in the TREN HOTEL an experience in itself. Although my Eurail Pass is for First Class it was full for this 8 hour journey and even if it weren't I wouldn't have travelled this way. This Eurail First Class trip costs an extra Eu130 plus booking fee so I settled for Tourist Class which was only Eu43.00 plus the booking fee.We rolled out of Valencia Station at 12.5 http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-126588.html Barcelona is a beautiful city of many contrasts. I'm sorry to have left it behind and especially the unique and colourful buildings designed and built by a true master Antonio Gaudi.The only two disappointments I had whilst in Barcelona were the loss of all my photos the beautiful wetlands and mangroves of Singapore and my carfully chosen photos around Barcelona including all Gaudi's wonderf http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-125630.html Hostel life is interesting to say the least. The cost factor is the most important one because it allows me to do this trip. The other factors are a mixed bag. For instance at the moment we have 4 really nice young Scottish blokes in our room. Its kind of hard to get used to sharing a room with blokes one doesnt know though they are well mannered and nice. Its just that Im constantly falli http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-123854.html Its really good to be here in Barcelona. I was so wiped out by the 'getting here' that I went to bed at 7pm and slept right through until now it's 6.14am here. No problem catching changing trains to the Singapore Airport none spending 5 hours there 'cause there's so much to do and passenger comfort is really well thought out. But 13 hours on a plane mostly filled with German people who see http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-123570.html Singapore is just like it used to be only more so More people more cars longer trains more buildings more reclaimed land for more buildings ...... However the Singaporeans do still take advantage of every little space to grow something green. From the train the other day I saw a small tree growing out of a crack in a tall building and it looked perfectly healthy.Everything is still well http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-123564.html Finally I'm on my way No problems going through checkin at the Airport however there was sneaky secod weighin just around the Departure Entrance door. I had already put the books etc that I carried back into my carryon bag so it weighed in at 7.5 kg. The person in charge let me through but while we were standing in the Customs line I saw three other people told to take their bags back http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-123560.html This is something I would often told my girls when they were trying out their wings and forgot to pack their parachutes As I dusted them off I would say You'll get to Z from A just as surely if you go from A to B and then C ..... It's a long way from Australia there's the 'A' to Spain and South America. And there is only 'me myself and I' on this trip. So Singapore is a good place to try http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-120146.html It's hard to believe in just over 3 weeks I'll be setting off on my longawaited 6 months odyssey. Two weeks from now I will be officially classed as 'a Senior Citizen' and in receipt of the Aged Pension. One thing though where in my small carryonboard bag not taking any other luggage am I going to fit the walking stick Perhaps if I get a folding oneHave rebooked most of the accommod http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-112813.html Part of my aforementioned change of itinerary involves Paraguay. There I have relatives whom I have only read and heard about since I was a little girl.In the 1890's in Sydney many shearers and their families were caught up in a struggle for survival. The 'landed gentry' wealthy farmers were forcing the shearers to accept lesser and lesser wages until they couldn't survive on what they were b http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-94214.html traveller feared lost in sea of red tape And here was I worrying about itinerary changes visas and solo travel etc. when what derailed my travel plans was an unknown change to the rules of my Centrelink Allowance. With hindsight I realise that it was for the best but at the time it was a big shock to me. When I rang the Department to notify them of my trip overseas 7 weeks before departure http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-92688.html