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Well, three weeks passed like a blink of the eyes and we are back home already. We arrived in Reno last night after 23 hours of plane travel (La Paz, Bolivia to Santa Cruz, Bolivia to Miami to Dallas and finally to Reno). Needless to say it was quite exhausting and I'm sure it will take a day or two to fully adjust. This is, however, a minor consequence for such an incredible experience. The trip was an absolute joy. While we are disappointed that it's over, we both agree that it was the perfect length and can't think of a better way to have spent the time.
We covered a lot of ground since our last blog. We flew from Iquitos to Lima and then to Cusco, where we visited the Incan Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Then it was off to Lake Titicaca, and finally across the Bolivian border through Copocabana and into the city of La Paz.
Our last day in Iquitos was great. The antibiotics did their job and my fever finally broke. I was able to get out and actually see some of the sights in this strange jungle town. In the morning
Pisac, Peru
First stop from Cusco to Machu Picchu along the Sacred Valley. we walked around a local market in which vendors sold everything from pet monkeys to witchcraft like jungle medicine. After leaving the market, we hired a canoe and explored the village of Puerto Belen. Located well below the high water mark of the Amazon River, the houses in this area are either floating or built on stilts.
From Iquitos, we flew to Lima and got a room for the night right in the city center. We checked out the area a little bit but were mostly there to sleep, as our flight for Cusco left at 5:30 AM. Cusco is located high in the Peruvian Andes, and was the center of the Incan Empire. While there, we explored Inca sights, Spanish colonial churches & architecture, and observed a labor rally in the center of town. Cusco is also the jumping off point for the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. We travelled from Cusco through the Sacred Valley by taxi and train, stopping along the way to explore the beautiful villages of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Up the entire valley there were Incan ruins and agricultural terraces on the steep mountainsides. Much to our amazement, the valley kept getting more and
Uros Islands
Islands, houses and boats made all of reeds. more picturesque the deeper we travelled, until we reached the breathtaking village of Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo) at the base of Machu Picchu. The terrain along this last stretch is so extreme that it is only accessible by train. We stayed in Aguas Calientes (the closest town to Machu Picchu) for two nights while we explored the ruins. I can't exactly put the emotion felt at Machu Picchu into words. Silver and I have both longed to visit the area for as long as either can remember, and the actual experience far surpassed any expectations we had. It was a truly magical place and we will remember the day in detail for the rest of our lives.
On departure from Aguas Calientes, we took a train and bus to Cusco, then an overnight bus to Puno on the shore of Lake Titicaca, the largest navigable high altitude lake in the world. Coming from Lake Tahoe, we weren't expecting to be awe-stricken, however the lake proved to be quite remarkable. It sits at 12,600 feet (twice the elevation of Tahoe) and has peaks of the Cordillera Real towering above it, reaching around 20,000 ft. The huge lake took over
Market in Belen, Iquitos
Rainforest remedies and potions. 5 hours to drive from one end to the other by bus. While at Titicaca, we walked around the cities of Puno and Copocabana, and took a boat out to the Uros Islands. Unlike any we have before seen, the Uros are floating islands constructed solely of reeds. The inhabitants (Uros Indians) were forced off the land by the Incans and adapted to this strange life to survive. There are about 40 of the islands now, each one housing around 4 families. Nearly everything on the islands is made of reed (houses, boats, crafts, etc.). While their life was incredibly fascinating, you just had to wonder "why?".
After receiving another stamp in our passports at the Bolivian border, we continued on to the city of La Paz, where we spent two days walking the streets and admiring the massive mountains on the horizon. At 11,200 feet, La Paz is the highest capital city and home to the highest international airport in the world. The city provided some interesting architecture and a lot of great shopping. As a result of the latter, my bag weighed in 13 pounds heavier at the airport for our return flight. After spending our entire
Belen, Iquitos
The Venice of Iquitos, Peru last day gift shopping, we left La Paz the evening of May 4th. We said goodbye to South America and began our long journey home, which is where we find ourselves now, refreshed, content, but already discussing our next big trip.
We hope that this blog finds you all doing well. Thanks for allowing us to share our adventure with you.
-Paul & Silver-
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Michael
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Glad to have you back...
All I can say is WOW!!! Your pictures are absolutely amazing. I'm glad that your trip was all you hoped it would be. It was a lot of fun to sit here and watch. Talk to you soon. Michael