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Background: Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was captured by the Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Peruvian independence was declared in 1821, and remaining Spanish forces defeated in 1824. After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democratic leadership in 1980, but experienced economic problems and the growth of a violent insurgency. President Alberto FUJIMORI's election in 1990 ushered in a decade that saw a dramatic turnaround in the economy and significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity. Nevertheless, the president's increasing reliance on authoritarian measures and an economic slump in the late 1990s generated mounting dissatisfaction with his regime. FUJIMORI won reelection to a third term in the spring of 2000, but international pressure and corruption scandals led to his ouster by Congress in November of that year. A caretaker government oversaw new elections in the spring of 2001, which ushered in Alejandro TOLEDO as the new head of government; his presidency has been hampered by allegations of corruption.




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Day 1 - After the fun and games the night before, I managed to make the bus to start the trek at 6.00am. We have got a great group of people and I got chatting to Helen and Andrew. Helen was from England and Andrew from South Africa. It turned out that they had lived in Twickenham, and not only that, had met whilst sharing a house with Badger (my mate at home)!!! Unbelievable!! When we thought about it we think we did meet over a Guinness in The Tup. They are a cracking couple and we got on really well. [View Full Entry]

Linesy - Graham Lines | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
1168 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 21 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 24th 2005 | 413 Views | [diary=24522]

Bus Problem 1
Bus Problem 2
Camp Site Day 1

Well our flight from Iquitos waso on time, there were no delays and we did'nt get bumped off although there was an earthquake in Peru the night before we left Iquitos (Guy felt the earth move, Rachel did not!) and our plane had to fly to Chiclayo to pick up some stranded passengers as the earthqauke knocked out the rumnway lights at Chiclayo. This meant a 2 hour flight to Lima insetad of one. We didn't mind though, and we saw Chiclayo briefly fom the air (not much to report really). Our connecting flight from Lima to Cusco went without hitch [View Full Entry]

Guy and Rachel - Guy & Rachel Fletcher | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
721 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 14 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 9th 2005 | 364 Views | [diary=22623]

Narrow streets
You can call me Al......
Cusco

By Jenstar
October 8th 2005
easy pisac South America » Peru » Cusco » Sacred Valley
My intrepid missus and myself have purchased what is known as a boleto turistica in Cusco. This has so far permitted us to view a variety of art type museums that amply demonstrate that althought the Spaniards were pretty good at a number of things in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, tasteful interior decorating and art were not factors amongst them. Much gold, pious looking christian types and carved wooden furniture with an unnecessary number of knobbly bits. THe good news is cameras arent allowed, so thereīs nothing to endure from that. THe ticket also gave us entry to Pisac [View Full Entry]

Jenstar - Jenny Hill | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
300 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 8 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 10th 2005 | 330 Views | [diary=22516]

View from pisac defenses
BOTH types of masonry
Big carved rock

When Ella announced she was staying in Cusco to learn Spanish, Salsa and Peruvian cookery instead of doing the Inca Trail I spent the next 2 days dithering (not like me I know!) about whether I really wanted to camp for 3 nights probably in the rain, with very limited facilities. But everyone said I couldnīt come to Peru and not do it, so suddenly I found myself equipped with walking pole, poncho and coco leaves (for the altitude sickness), waving goodbye to our tour guide. No going back now!! We spent the night before the trek at Ollataytambo, eating, drinking [View Full Entry]

Alex and Ella - Alex Earland & Ella Oates | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
1162 Words | 2 Comment(s) | 19 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 15th 2005 | 227 Views | [diary=23210]

The eveningīs entertainment
Helen learns the panpipes
And theyīre off!

By Linesy
October 4th 2005
Arrival In Cuzco South America » Peru » Cusco » Sacred Valley
Well I know itīs been a while and you were all missing me! This could take some time so sit back and relax whilst I tell you alllll about it. I left Arequipa, after what I think was a relatively successful time at the school, and caught the overnight bus to Cuzco. I was looking forward to a quiet journey, but lucky me, I was sat next to a chatty local who was keen for me to try out my newly learnt Spanish whilst she tried her English. I humoured the old biddy for an hour or so until she started [View Full Entry]

Linesy - Graham Lines | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
623 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 12 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 24th 2005 | 297 Views | [diary=24370]

Cuzco Cathedral
Cuzco Square
12 sided stone

After a day in Cuzco, it was time to check in and have the pre trail briefing............Donīt think so! We went to the travel agent at the pre-arranged time only to find the office shut!! The only shut office on the street had to be ours, it wasnīt feeling too good! We had no idea where to get the bus the next morning, the tour agents didnīt have a clue whether we were still going etc. etc. We arrived at the office.......Open at last!....... at 7 the next morning, off we went at half past. We arrived at KM82, the designated [View Full Entry]

Jo and Mark - Mark and Jo | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
807 Words | 3 Comment(s) | 88 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 7th 2005 | 777 Views | [diary=22370]

Swing bridge at start of trail.
Inca Trail 1
Hi from the Inca Trail!

We decided to break up our bus ride from Puno to Cusco and opted for a tour bus that stoped at sights of interest along the way. The English speaking tour guide was pretty good but did insist on interupting us every 5 minutes to point out random things like cement factories and passing trains! Although some of the stops were dull, 10 minutes being pushed around a museum for instance, we did apreciate the opportunity to get off the bus and stretch our legs. One of the more interesting places was a sight of Inca ruins at Raqchi where we [View Full Entry]

Bex and Rich - Becky Beaton & Richard Buck | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
860 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 21 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 2nd 2005 | 1484 Views | [diary=21668]

Church at Raqchi
A cute baby Alpaca
Inca ruins at Raqchi

After a 10 hour truck journey we arrived in Cusco at 1am. As Ella had been to Cusco only a week before she was appointed tour guide which meant we only did the Inca highlights and the best bars. After spending the day catching up on emails, laundry and seeing a few sights, including the weekly Sunday parade around the town square it was time to hit the town for our first night out in Cusco. Our group were all going out for roast dinner, but we were in need of something a little more stylish so Ella took me, Shona [View Full Entry]

Alex and Ella - Alex Earland & Ella Oates | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
1124 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 32 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 15th 2005 | 178 Views | [diary=21934]

Maria, Amy & Alex
Alex, Ella, Shona & Helen our first night n Cusco at Macondo
Just before all the clothes came off!

By Sarah Jean
September 27th 2005
Back in the City South America » Peru » Cusco » Cusco
Cusco is known as both the Inca capital of Peru...and the Gringo capital. I remarked to someone that it reminds me of Italy, not only for the cobble stone streets and red tiled roofs, but for the hordes of tourists at every corner. But, this means that accomodations are a bit more comfortable and that you can get pizza for dinner anywhere. I havenīt had pizza yet, instead I usually eat 1/4 of a rotisserie chicken and french fries for $1.50. It also means that they exploit the Inca name beyond belief. Guess what I had for breakfast this morning?...Inca Granola, [View Full Entry]

Sarah Jean - Sarah Jean Jordan | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
214 Words | 2 Comment(s) | 6 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 3rd 2005 | 208 Views | [diary=21664]

You Donīt Have to Go Far...
Just a Normal Day
A Church in the Valley

By ItchyAdventurer
September 25th 2005
Camino Inka South America » Peru » Cusco » Cusco
This was a while ago now - I started the Inca Trail a few days after my last blog entry, on September 19th, still suffering from the remenants of food poisoning but keen to get on with it. I turned up to the briefing the night before only to be told that we were leaving that night as there were bus strikes planned for the next day (typical South American answer to anything is to have a good old protest), so had to pack very quickly and spent the night sleeping on a football pitch near the trailhead. The first day [View Full Entry]

ItchyAdventurer - Adam Ross | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
597 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 23 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: December 5th 2005 | 167 Views | [diary=22643]

The official start of the trail
The return of the cowboy hat
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