Blogs from Sacred Valley, Cusco, Peru, South America - page 10

Here we are safe and sound in Cusco, Peru. We are looking forward to a couple of days off the motorcycles, and our tour of the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Alec, is still in Salta with his wife Hazel, who flew over from NZ to be with him, he is recovering well, albeit a bit slowly. Charlie, is also doing well now in hospital in La Pas, they have operated and pinned his leg. His freind will fly down from Brazil to see him in a few days. We are sorry that these two very experienced riders can't continue with us, but such are the dangers of this sort of adventure on motorcycles in such remote places. It is not just the the riding that is a challenge, it is also the altitude, as it ... read more

After being dazzled by Cusco, it was time for stops in the Sacred Valley. The agriculture is really rich throughout the valley, and there are Inca terraces all along the way. I opted for hiking and collectivos--small mini-vans that collect anyone and everything along the way: one of the rides included a live duck unknowingly quacking it's way to market. Highlights: Moray--Inca agricultural testing center. Three large circular terraced pits where the micro-climate changes as you get lower and lower. I couldn't feel the humidity change (it was raining), but it got warmer as I went descended through 20 terraces. Salinas--about 400 ponds of saline water each drying at a different rate, and producing different grades of salt. Unlike any salt-producing place I had ever seen. Pisac--a fortress high above a village that each Sunday becomes ... read more

Following our whirlwind tour of Peru (and brief foray into Bolivia) we were back in Cuzco for one final time. Cuzco, Cuzco, Cuzco, I freely admit that I thoroughly fell for all its ancient charms, peoples, history, cobbled streets, traveller friendly shops and colourful parades that seem to occur on a weekly basis here. Cuzco was the Inca’s capital city and it is believed that it was originally laid out to represent the puma, and although the invading Castilians raised the majority of its original buildings the Inca foundations are still clearly visible on numerous streets, proudly bearing the load of many a modern day construction and displaying all the finesse and skill of craftsmen at the top of their game. The Incas certainly knew how to make a building to withstand the seismic disturbances that ... read more

So you may wonder what Cuy is well its Guinny Pig which happens to be a very popular dish here in Peru. So my and a few friends felt it was only right to go and try it out.. We caught a cab to Tipon and stoped where the drive said prepaired the best Cuy. All I can say is I tried it once and never again.. After our meal we went to the Inca site of Tipon which was unreal well you can see for yourself..... read more

Cusco, once imperial seat of the mighty Incan empire, is now home to a population of 300,000 and is the bustling, jumping off point for tourists heading to the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu and other Incan ruins in the region. At an altitude of 3,500 metres it was ironically found to have the highest levels of ultraviolet light on earth by a study in 2006 - interesting given the Incas fascination with the sun. Rising to prominence in the 11th Century, Cusco became the capital of the burgeoning Incan empire and with its fertile valleys, abundant glacial water supply and central location it was the perfect spot to launch the massive expansion that was to come. It was Sapa Inca Pachacuti who began the transformation of Cusco from a small city-state into the mighty Incan empire ... read more