http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Mischa/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Mischa en-us Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:41:37 +0000 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:41:37 +0000 Marrakesh is very touristy full of British as they fly in cheap and tons of French. Americans like it there too and there was ofcourse me. I stayed in hotel CTM right on the square at 200 Dirhams a night not too bad with great views over place Djemaa elfna.After I had been in Fs Mknes and Rabat I believed the medina even though it was still nice. I did all the necessary touristy stuff an http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech-Tensift-El-Haouz/Marrakech/blog-384355.html In Meknes I visited the beautiful medersa the medina all the museums and the next day I took a cab to Volibulis. This is the biggest Roman excavation site in Africa and has the most colourfull mosiac floors I have ever seen. Didn't want to hang around for too long in Mekns so took the bus the next day to Rabat.Rabat was nice too although I was kasbahd out and got really sick of that song of t http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Mekn-s-Tafilalet/blog-384352.html I took a bus across the border from Mellila to Nador. No Hassle at the border. Only remark I got was Mischa VAN No family of VAN Basten Nope A lot of the Morrocons still live in the past it is always Gullit Kruiff van Basten Rijkaard. Anyway after a beautiful trip as it is spring after all in Morocco I arrived in Fs entered through the Bab gate el Mahrouk and entered the medieval tim http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/F-s-Boulemane/Fes/blog-384346.html I took the boat over from Malaga to Melilla one of the two Spanish enclaves that remain in Morocco.Boat was big empty and had a bar. I slept all the way to the other side only to be woken by a custom officer to kick me off. Hassle free arrival and checked in in one of the hotels. Melilla is a kind of a strange place as it has all very rich Spanish people living there who still adore Franco and http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Ceuta---Melilla/Melilla/blog-384332.html Guess I have to update once more and since I am going back through Paraguay and Bolivia I might as well secure my photos.Heres some photos of Copacabana Potosi where I was able to blow up some dynamite and http://www.travelblog.org//blog-75804.html So I quitted my job as I was actually in the way of the local tourguidesand they werent too happy having me there. Also I only worked for threehours a day. So when Kim arrived we decided to go to Machu Picchu.We took the local bus to Ollaytatambo an from there the evening train toMachu Picchu. Checked in that night in a local hostal and emptied a bottlepisco sour. The next day we got up to go to http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Machu-Picchu/blog-68568.html BLA http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Sacred-Valley/blog-57781.html So last monday I arrived here in Cusco after a 9 hour bus journey bed included. As monday was the first of may I didnt have to work and went the next day to the office of GAP. They told me they neednt anybody in the office which is fine as I didnt come here to work behind another computer. They told me I could work as a tour leader in a small village called Ccaccaccollo. Here the women are http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Cusco/blog-57190.html Hoy he visitado la Monestario Santa Catalina con mi Profesor y un guia.Todo conversacion fue en el Espaol.DisfrutaMischa http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Arequipa/Arequipa/blog-55401.html So last friday I took a bus to corire to see the famous petroglyphes of the Wari indians who sculpted them some 1200 to 1300 years ago.Scientists are not sure if they were from the Wari indians but they are preinca regradless.The sculpting mainly exists of zig zag lines depicting water animals like llama alpacas and vicunas condors snakes mouse rat dogs cats and ofcourse dancing india http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Arequipa/blog-54676.html This weekend I did a three day hike in the Colca Canyon. My guide Maria Jesus picked me up in my apartment at 6 oclock in de morning and we took a taxi to pick up two other girls. Annamaria from Italy and Pamela from Swiss. Stuffed in these tiny little cabs we set off for the terminal terrestre where we took a local bus to Cobana Conde. From here the trek would start. It turned out that it was http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Arequipa/Colca-Canyon/blog-53601.html Todays my birthday tonight I will throw a party in the bar of my Spanish school.Heres my coffee break with a real cake and some pisco offered by the two tourists in the back. http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Arequipa/Arequipa/blog-54039.html So yesterday the 11th I decided to study after my Spanish lessons and not go into town with the teachers as it takes a lot of time and you cant get to study anything when youre finished with all the things they organise. Unfortenately they had also organised a cocktail making course in the Spanish cafe at 6 pm. So I studied from 1 till 4 on the highest roof terrace on the plaza de armas. Two Ge http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Arequipa/Arequipa/blog-52434.html So started on monday with the classes my teacher Renzo is sound. Learning to count was no problem as I was doing the bingo on sunday.Every day it is two hours of theory and then into the city with the teachers to learn you stuff in real life. Friday we do a reality tour and will go to the slumps and orphanages.Today wednesday a city walk yesterday to the market nice with all the chopped off an http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Arequipa/Arequipa/blog-50998.html So when I woke up this morning after a good nights rest I went into town to get a map of Arequipa. After I found one decided to get out of town as I wanted some nature.Took a cab to Molina de Sabandia just outside Arequipa and wandered around in the surroundings and visited to Molina which was built in the 17th century and totally restored into working order in 1973. Here I saw my first apalca w http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Arequipa/Arequipa/blog-50684.html After another delayed flight from Lima I arrived in Arequipa Saskia the owner of the Spanish girl was waiting for me and together we took a taxi to my new appartment where I will be staying the next month. Quite a nice appertment the two other unfortenately Dutch girls were not to arrive till saturday So I was king for one day. But no water in the kitchen no cooker and no fridge So no nice c http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Arequipa/Arequipa/blog-50219.html So onwards to Lima. Flight was delayed by 1 hour. So got myself a big bottle of water and a sandwhich. As the flight was at 12 I was quite amazed nobody was at the gate yet I guessed something was wrong two other peruvians were standing confused as well. But they said as it was another ora it would be ok yeah right I thought. So found the right gate told the peruvians as well but they didn http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Lima/blog-50214.html So here I am just landed in Madrid its 12.15 and have a full day ahead ofme. The first guy I met on my flight is a pensionado of 43 years of age and lives in Panama. He used to own a building company and was doing some real estate business that kind of business you get killed for in Holland these days I guess thats why he lives in Panama now. Gave me some good tips though about travelling in http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/blog-49980.html So here I go booked myself a nice little hostel in madrid and asked one of my friends if this was an ok area in Madrid. As I am not totally fluent in Spanish yet I gathered that it was between the junkies and the hookers area h what's newNo e sel mejor sitio esta un poco demasiado cercas ce la zona cutrede lavapies la plaza de al lado Jacinot Benavente es al plaza de lasputas y la otra http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/blog-45729.html So the flight is booked. I am leaving the 29th of March for Madrid where I will spent one night and have some nice wines and tapas. The next day I am flying to Lima only to fly the next day to Arequipa Peru. Here I will spent one month to learn Spanish which is well needed for my volentary work which I will do in Cuzco. Here's my route more or lessMap http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Arequipa/blog-40790.html