QCLisa

QCLC

QCLisa

Hi! My name is Lisa and I love to travel to experience other cultures and have fun doing the unexpected along the way. I love ancient history and archaeology (particularly of the Egypt and Levant). I am a bit of an amatuer photographer, last year I got a D-300 and had to learn to use it on our trip to the Galapagos. I had a horrible time, then I found out my problem, my lens was malfunctioning! I have spent a fair amount of traveling before I started this blog, with trips to Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Greece, Italy, Spain, France, England, Belize, Guatamala, Mexico, China (Mainland and Hong Kong and Macao), Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Thailand, Last year we were in Chile, Ecuador and Peru. Everywhere I have gone, I have learned something not only about myself but about the people who live in these places. So, following, is my best attempt to sum up my most recent travels, missadventures and interesting things I will see and do along the way.

In 2009, we are heading back to some of the Greek Islands we enjoyed on previous trips, Rhodos, Mykonos and Naxos. We will also be heading to Morocco. I think we are going to take a chance at driving around because part of the adventure is seeing those little towns along the way. Unfortunately, we are also planning on 5 days in Mexico City. I am not sure how this is going to work or what will happen. Between the swine flu and earthquake, I am not sure we will actually make it. A number of friends and family have questioned our (my) judgement in going now but, things are subject to change and I have always wanted to see Teotihuacan.

Warning, the following pages may be offensive to some viewers due to my dry humor and biting sarcasm. If you find it offensive, feel free to go elsewhere!

Lessons learned and how it applies to Rhodes!

Europe » Greece » South Aegean » Rhodes May 23rd 2009

The Medieval walls and entrance to the old city

QCLC

It's rather amusing that I start this trip reminscing about things that have gone wrong and taught me lessons along the way, from Egypt and the don't just rely on your sense of smell for buying food, because goat brains and onions small heavenly, to Thailand and the hotel receptionist giving advise "Lady, no want go Chaing Mai, bad flood" only to find out that a dam burst and Chaing mai was under 4' of water when I arrived. So here we are on our way to our long sought vacation and what does stupid me do on the flight from Toronto to London? I lost my Kindle (e-book reader, with over 400 books on it! Now I am finding out any one English language paperback is over $15 USD!). The lesson here, for those who ... read more

Galapagos 2

South America » Ecuador » Galápagos August 14th 2008

This was the offending animal seconds before.....

QCLC

I added more pictures......... read more

Watch those sea lions....they bite!

South America » Ecuador » Galápagos August 2nd 2008

Galapagos 59

QCLC

O.K, so we have finally made it to the the Galapagos Islands. After a rather lengthy delay on Tame Airlines and what at best could be described as optional security and barely controlled chaos at the airport we arrive to find out we have missed the first full day of our tour! Not exactly a great way to start but we are sure the next day will improve. We participate in what at the time I think is one of those stupid muster drills, where you take your life vest put it on and agree on a meeting place. Well, I will NEVER EVER COMPLAIN about this again. On our second to last day I was woke up from my afternoon nap by frantic spanish calling all hands to put out a fire. The message was ... read more

Otavalo and Retail Therapy Revisited

South America » Ecuador » North » Otavalo July 31st 2008

Chess Anyone?

QCLC

Apparently, over packing is a secondary disorder, brought on by compulsive shopping. My name is Lisa and I am a chronic shopaholic. It doesn't even have to be for me. Heck, I even get stuff for my friends, family, and staff all resulting in me lugging around stuff for my six weeks. The trick was in avoiding paying any overweight luggage fees when we were limited to 20 kilos total for the whole 6 weeks and we started with more than that! for those of you dying to know, we never paid excess or any luggage fees. This brings me to Otavalo. One of the best markets in South America. Now, having just been in Peru didn't hurt because much of what we saw was from there (think Pachemama earrings) but also knowing that made us ... read more

The Inca Trail

South America » Peru » Cusco » Inca Trail July 23rd 2008

Overlooking MP with Huaynu Picchu in the Back

QCLC

This should really be called the Inca trail, Machu Picchu and Huayna Piccu and what was I thinking when I packed for this and do people really wear the same clothes for 4 days??????? First, let me tell you, I apparently have chronic overpackers disorder. I am admitting it now, I overpack! I think it goes along with be prepared... for rain, snow, a heat wave, a tornado, a plague, the second comming and a bad case of digestive upset. Fortunately none of these things happened, which left me and my porter holding the bags, quite literally! Second, if one desires to do adventure treckking, do it when you are like, say 18 and not in your mid 30's to 40's. You may think you can still do these thingsbut while your brain says yes, your ... read more

Cusco and The Sacred Valley

South America » Peru » Cusco » Sacred Valley July 22nd 2008

Plaza de Armas

QCLC

Cusco was really our biggest introduction to the impact the Spanish had on the Andean people. Cusco, was the thriving heart of the Andean people until the Spanish destroyed it searching for gold, building churches and corrupting the traditional ways and beliefs of the Andean people. Now, what remains requires you to use your imagination to see, for instance the layout of the stones in Sassaywama to look like a paw print or a llama. Or Cusco itself, layed out to form a Jaguar (a sacred animal to the Inca's). Juxtaposed with the stunning alterpieces and artwork inside the Cathedral gives Cusco of today it's unique feel, part Spanish Colonial and part Andean. Despite what appears to be a coordinated effort to wipe out all indiginous traditions, they lived on in the form of symbolism and ... read more

Got To Love a Town That Has It's Own Beer!

Retail Therapy in Pisac

South America » Peru » Cusco » Pisac July 20th 2008

Dolls

QCLC

O.K, so I'll be honest, I arranged this part of our trip to be able to see the famous market in Pisac, after all a girl has to get her retail therapy in sometime. Well, Pisac is a small town about 40 minutes by public bus from Cusco. (Yes, despite the horror of our hotel owner, we took the public bus.) Pisac is famous for it's market and who can resist that? Don't believe he hype. In the rating of markets I have seen it wouldn't crack the top 5! It might make the top ten. The problem is really the redundancy of the items. It becomes almost like how many Pachemama earrings can one person see, use, buy as gifts, etc! Anyway, there were a few interesting little stands one, a shop where they sold ... read more

Sandboarding and the Nazca Lines

South America » Peru » Ica » Huacachina July 18th 2008

Not bad for the first time

QCLC

After our journey concluded with Roberto, We had a day and a half in Huacachina. This is a place that looks exactly like the dunes of Arizona, mixed in with a Middle Eastern Oasis and a younger backpacking crowd. I decided to take a shot and got myself a lesson in sandboarding. Let me say this now, IT IS WAY HARDER THAN IT LOOKS! I personally have never snowboarded or skied, so this was entirely a new experience. The first clue I should have had was the fact that I was gasping for breath walking up the hill in the ski boots, which felt like they weighed 40 pounds each and were happy to sink into the shifting sand. Second, the board gets waxed every run, you know why... to make it crazy fast! Needless to ... read more

Amazing Journey In The Desert

South America » Peru » Ica » Ocucaje July 12th 2008

Desecration in the desert

QCLC

We arrived to Ica by 4 hour bus from Lima after a flight from Iquitos. I immediatly contacted our desert guide Roberto Penny Cabrera. Well, as luck would have it, he and his story and trip very similiar to ours, was picked up by the New York Times the day before, so we got to hear all about it for the days we were with him. (Just in case you all think we are copying the NYT, let me assure you I planned this trip last year. ) Roberto is an enigma, on one hand he seems to enjoy attention and on the other he shuns it. He calls himself The Ghost and will not allow Peruvian papers to use his name. His family was one of the families who founded the city of Ica. He ... read more

What Roberto refers to as raping the desert

Easter Island

South America » Chile » Easter Island » Hanga Roa July 5th 2008

15 Moai all in a row

QCLC

Well, we are really are finally here. For the history of Easter Island, please consult Lonely Planet or your local library or if you are lazy, try Wikipedia. Needless to say the five hour flight was worth it. It is interesting in that I came to this place with a whole bunch of questions about the Moai. I am leaving with more. It seems that in absence of written information about the histoy of the Island, Rapa Nui´s people rely on the oral tradition. Considering that small pox nearly wiped out the population (down to a little more than 100 native survivors), lack of natural resourses and fighting between clans (long ears vs. short ears....I am not making this up) that it is amazing that there is as much information as there is. As far as ... read more

Joined	January 28th 2008	Trips	1
Last Login	January 26th 2010	Followers	0
Status	BLOGGER	Follows	0
Blogs	12	Guestbook	18
Photos	182	Forum Posts	0