Blogs from Cusco, Cusco, Cusco, Peru, South America - page 64

¡Hola Amigos! Now had I entered this blog yesterday, it would have be entitled ´Contento en Cusco´or ´Gorging on Guinea Pig,´ however, todays events have provided a slight change in plans. But first, I will catch you up on the happenings of the past 2 days in Cusco. I am once again nestled up on the balcony of our hostel, overlooking the city drinking some coca tea made with fresh coca leaves. I know what you are wondering, and yes, the coca plant is what they make cocaine out of, however, this has significantly subdued effects. It is the distinguishing beverage of this town, as it helps with altitude sickness and it is extremely calming. It was the complimentary tea that we were offered when we checked in here at our hostel (home sweet home, Miradore). ... read more

¡Hola! After a tumultuous 19 hour travel day, Liz and I were finally able to find solace tucked away in the Andean town of Cusco. But let me recap the trip for you. Our fourth of July was perfect: It consisted of choking down cold hamburgers garnished with only onions and pickles in the dirtiest airport terminal imaginable. However, the corona and marg that we consumed in the airport bar in honor of the holiday were great. My advice to you... avoid Ft. Laud airport like the plague. Anyways, enough about the states. After a 3 hour layover (our flight was delayed about 1 hour) we were finally able to embark to Peru. We arrived in Lima at about 23:00 (yes, they use international time down here) and proceeded to go smoothly through customs (except for ... read more

I´ve just been for the briefing for my trek to Machu Piccu which is due to leave tomorrow at 7am. Only, it´s not because there is a train strike and we need to use the train for part of our journey. The organisers have managed to move everything back by a day (although it has cost us quite a bit) so I´m now leaving on Monday 7th and returning to Cusco on Friday 11th. Which would be fine except I have already booked and paid for my extravagence of the trip, which is a 10 hour train journey through the Andes to Puno. I was due to be on the train on the morning of the 11th. Having paid $150 for it I´m not keen to miss out! The train station is closed now until tomorrow ... read more

Its Friday 6th June, we have had a tiring 13 hour flight from Paris to Lima and fortunately we are met at the airport by two representatives of Peru Tourism who drove us to our beautiful hotel. We then had a meeting with Marita Nunez with whom I had liaised for the previous twelve months in putting the Peru leg of our trip together. The warm hospitality and personalised service we received was overwhelming. We were picked up early next morning for our flight to Cusco, an hour trip into the Andes. Cuzco is at an altitude of 3,400 metres and altitude sickness had been a real concern. We had been given plenty of advice on how to cope or minimise its affects but still the feeling as we got off the plane was weird. Just ... read more

So far I've been in Cusco a week. I already feel my Spanish getting better which is really pretty damn sweet. I've met a few other people at my Spanish school who have been in Cusco for three or four weeks and haven't learned much because they hang out with solely Dutch, German, or English speaking people. I sure hope that this doesn't happen to me! I need to make friends with some Cusqueños! I've been exploring the area a bit. Seeing some Inca things... Ayer, I went to the Inca Museum and saw a lot of old clay jars. Hoy, I took a local bus up to some Incan ruins above Cusco: Tambomachay, Q'enqo, Pupukara, and Saqsaywaman. The bus, enroute to Pisaq, drove right past Tambomachay before I realized I was supposed to tell the ... read more