We left Santa Cruz, Bolivia on July 17th by train to head to the border of Brasil. We boarded the train which took fourteen hours to reach the town of Puerto Suarez, Bolivia where we would cross into Brasil. I then headed to the border check point of Bolivia to get my exit stamp which should have been free but the man with the stamp told us it would cost ten bolivianos to get a stamp. We paid our blackmail money and got our stamp as the border man put the money in his own pocket. We then headed further on [View Full Entry]

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I got to Potosi mid-day after a horrible bus ride and settled into highest city of its size in the world. The main attraction of Potosi is its silver mine and to be able to tour it. On sunday morning we met with our guide and traveled to a site to get out fitted in our miner outfits. We got pants, jackets, rubber boots, helmets, and head lamps. Dressed in our mine outfits we headed to the miner market to buy gifts for the miners. Walking into a small shop we bought coca leaves, alcohol that was 96%, cigarettes, and dynamite. [View Full Entry]

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We left La Paz in the morning by a three hour public bus to the town of Ororu. In the town of Ororu we caught the eight hour train that would take the group to small town of Uyuni that would be our jumping off point for the Salt Flats of Bolivia or Salar de Uyuni. I boarded the train and found my seat which was was comfortable. The left the town of Ororu and headed thru the desert of Bolivia to the small town of Uyuni. The train ride would have been comfortable but our train car got massive amounts [View Full Entry]

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On Sunday July 6 I headed out by bus from Puno, Peru to La Paz Bolivia. We traveled for five hours on a bus until we reached the border of Peru and Bolivia. It was a simple border and I crossed over after going through immigration and stopped in the small town of Copacabbana, Bolivia on the shores of Lake Titicaca. I changed buses and started the second bus journey to La Paz. First you have to cross the Isla del Sol of Lake Titicaca to continue the journey. You get off the bus and your bus goes on these tiny [View Full Entry]

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I left Cusco on Thursday July 3 via an eight hour bus ride to Puno, Peru. The next morning we took Tuk Tuks to the port at Lake Titicaca. Our group boarded the boat and cruised across Lake Titicaca for three hours when we finally arrived at the Island of Tequille. To get to the main area of the island you have to climb up steep stairs and paths for about forty-five minutes to get to the top. The island of Tequille contains about 2000 people who work as a community to run the Island. Some of the people run the [View Full Entry]

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Cusco - Inti Raymi Festival - June 24 On June 24 we arrived by plane to the city of Cusco. The original capital and center of the Inca Empire. The city of Cusco is wonderful with sunny weather during the day and cold nights. The city contains original walls of stone from the Inca empire. At night the city center of Plaza de Armas is alive with restaurants, pubs, bars, and dance clubs. During the day the main plaza and streets are alive with various sellers. On June 24 the city grows in mass proportions for the Inti Raymi festival. The [View Full Entry]

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AREQUIPA I arrived in the city of Arequipa, Peru (2nd largest city in Peru) on Saturday June 21, 2008. The City of Arequipa is located at 2800 meters of elevation so walking around the first few hours gave me some slight light headedness but I quickly got use to the altitude. This is my first place in South America in which to be in the Andes Mountains. I explored the city on foot walking around the different streets and shops avoiding being hit by the massive amounts of traffic in the city. I arrived at the Plaza de Armas which contained [View Full Entry]

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On the outskirts of town we headed via dirt road to the Nasca desert. Archeologists have uncover numerous preserved mummies from the 2,500 year old Nasca society. Walking among the paths you arrive at several covered areas that contain the mummies. The mummies have had their skin, bone, hair, and clothes preserved. It is weird to think that this is not a hollywood movie set but actual mummies sitting out in the desert. There are adult mummies and child mummies preserved by the arid Nasca desert weather. The best reserved is protected behind class and all the hair, skin, and clothes [View Full Entry]

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After heading out from Lima, I headed south along the coast of Peru to Pisco my next stopping off point. The town of Pisco is still recovering from the massive earthquake that it had about 2 years ago. Walking along the streets there are shops open among the rubble of the earthquake. Moving around the different streets are difficult as you have to make sure that you don´t fall into the massive sinkholes right by the shops. I seems that it will take many more years before the city will recover. Heading out the next moring I took an early tour [View Full Entry]

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I arrived late last night in the City of Lima, Peru were I am starting my South American Journey. I am staying at a Hotel located in the Miraflores District of Lima. Miraflores is semi-upscale area of Lima. It feels very safe in this area. There are police around every corner to protect the area. During the day Miraflores explodes into action when all the shops and restaurants open up their stores and people are going about their business. At night the central area is a buzz with activity and I am sure the area stays open late although most of [View Full Entry]

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