Advertisement
Published: February 12th 2008
Edit Blog Post
Off to Peru we were. A short 6hr bus ride around Lake Titicaca, past Puno and onwards to Cusco - Peru´s oldest city and the base from which to visit Machu Picchu. A simple journey until our bus driver decided to drive past a customs police blockade at 60miles an tour. Whistles, sirens, the works as the police caught up with us. The driver eventually pulled over and the luggage holds were opened for inspection. Normally that would be fine but the Peruvian police are not reknowned for being the most trustworthy themselves so Sheena watched the bags inside the bus and I hopped off to watch our bags (and their contents) in the hold. Naturally, I made myself useful by asking the police lots of questions about what was going on which I’m sure they appreciated! The Bolvian-Peru crossing is a well known contraband route but nothing was found after about an hour of looking, including the driver’s license which caused another heated latin style (lots of arms flying and loud voices) debate whilst the passengers sat tight in the bus.
We eventually arrived in Cusco about 11:30 at night. With no hostel booked we toured the town for
The Sacred Valley by Pisac
This valley was used by the Incas to farm land nearby the ruins of Pisac half an hour in a taxi only to be told there was no room at the inn. It was time to bag a night of luxury so we rocked up with our rucksacks at the Savoy. It was all that you would imagine of a 4 star hotel in Peru including a leaking bathroom although we did manage to watch the results of super Tuesday (many of the primaries in the lead up to the US Presidential election). I slept well knowing Hillary had won California!
The next day we changed hotels to a hostel called Los Ninos Dos. Far and away the best place we have stayed in S. America. Set up by a dutch woman in 1996, after being inspired to take action after travelling 6 months prior herself in Peru, the hostel uses it’s profits to support children who would otherwise (and previously were) on the streets. The hostel (and it’s sister hostel and 2 restaurants) now support over 500 children providing education, hot meals and showers, medical and dental support and a place to build up their self esteem. The hostel is as good as it’s cause with piping hot showers and comfy beds. Each
Carnavales
A street parade in the small town of Pisac of the rooms is named after one of the children - we stayed in Gladys!
That same day we caught a bus from Cusco to a nearby town called Pisac to get our first taste of Inca ruins. Pisac has a fun market square surrounded by lush green mountains with terraces cut into them from their base to the peak. Sheena tried her hand at bartering which basically involved naming her price and then when they refused, Sheena walked away. It worked everytime! The ruins were a 1hr walk up the hill from where we were able to see a Pisac and the sweeping green valley in which it is founded. We passed several Peruvian families still throwing water bombs at each other (and Sheena) and wondered when they might tire of this!
We were lucky as we arrived back into the main square in Pisac as the locals dressed in full traditional clothes prepared to put on a display to celebrate ‘carnivales’.
The following morning, the whole of Cusco was on strike. The government is proposing to privatise many (if not all) of the sacred ruins which has clearly upset alot of people. We were booked
Ickle Inca Sheena
Sheena climbing into an Inca tunnel used for shelter to go horseriding that same day - we had to be picked up early because the locals were blocking the roads by cutting down trees and and placing huge rocks in the middle of the roads. We were told that we had to avoid any built up areas otherwise the locals would throw stones at us for not supporting the strike...fair enough! We rode to 4 Inca ruin sites before finishing in the town of Saqsaywaman (known by Gingos as ‘Sexy Woman’) and walked back down the hill to Cusco to see the protest.
Still feeling pretty rotten, it was time to cave in and call the doctor. He would come in the afternoon. I could finally know what was causing so much discomfort....the verdict: parasites. Lovely. I could now spend the next three days working out whether pills of that size should really be administered orally!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.053s; Tpl: 0.01s; cc: 8; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0351s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1mb
Steve Burdo
non-member comment
Cool stuff
Very nice pictures of the terraces and the Spanish style architecture in town. The locals decked out in their Carnivale regalia must have been something. Those colors are so vibrant they make teh spice in Bangalore look muted. I hope your parasites get killed. Whether you decided orally or anally, you are the man to get the job done. Quick update on the election. Barack has won every caucus/primary since California. In terms of states he is ahead. In terms of delegates they are dead even. She has a big lead in super delegates (political elders, senators, union leaders). If she did not have these, she would be behind. She fired her campaign manager last night and had to chip in $5mm of her own money. Some are saying that if she loses the next three or four primaries in terms of states and not delegates, she is through. We will see. John McCain has run away with teh Republican side although Huckabee has won the last few primaries. Take care buddy! Steve