Blogs from Peru, South America - page 3

Atsikeliu 5.30, pasitikrinu kuprines ar viską pasiėmiau, papusryčiauju ir laukiu kol atvažiuos autobusiukas manes paimti. Netrukus su langais papypsina atvažiaves mikriukas, tad išbėgu į lauką. Pasirodo šis ne pas mane. Didžiąją kuprinę pasidedu į saugojimo kambariuką ir netrukus sulaukiu savojo autobusiuko. Kompanija idomi, 6 izraeliečiai, 2 britai, australas ir mergina iš naujosios zelandijos. Iš ryto visi nelabai kalbūs, gal tik išskyrus izrealiečius. Važiuojam apie valandą iki kito miestelio. Čia kas nori gali papusryčiaut kavinėj ar nusipirkti užkandžių parduotuvėj. Čia praleidžiam dar valandą ir važiuojam iki kaimelio iš kurio pradedam savo žygį. Čia mūsų jau laukia 4 asilai ant kurių sukraunami visi daigtai... palapinės, miegmaišiai, maistas. Čia nacionalinis parkas, tad prie įėjimo dar tenka papildomai susimokėti. Netrukus įlendam ... read more

* Today was a late start, as things go around here. Which means we were on the trail at 8:30. Matt and I got up a little earlier than we needed to, though, so we could walk around the outside of the lodge again. The fog rolled in so early yesterday that we did not get to take another look at it after first arriving. I didn’t sleep well, at all, last night, so I didn’t mind getting out of bed. Being at the end of my day now, though, I think I did sleep more than I perceived I had. I only say that because I wasn’t tired today like I expected to after getting as little sleep as I thought I did. It could be because we went down in elevation (almost, a few ... read more

Day 3 of Trek! Highest altitude reached: 15213 * This was it. The big day, as they’d been saying. The day that was going to break us. Spoiler? It didn’t! As I’m here writing this message, I suppose you assumed that, but I could be writing without the use of my legs. * We woke up early again. I would say boo, but we’re getting pretty used to it. I’ve been able to get to sleep pretty immediately when we’ve hit the hay (generally around 10). I’ve not yet slept through the entire night, but I’ve not had too much trouble getting back to sleep. Last night I did wake up very parched and breathing pretty rapidly, but I got a glass of water, my breathing slowed as the refreshing water chased away the altitude, and ... read more

6 hours of busing took us from Puno to Arequipa, surrounded by a handful of volcanoes and double that in mountains. Arequipa is nicknamed the white city because of its unique brickwork made of the volcano deposits. But less of the facts and more about what we have been up to! We'd made no plans for our first day in the town, simply to get there, find some accommodation, buy some food, eat and have a drink. The hostal that we got was one of the cheapest in Areqipa, £7 for a double room, looking out onto the main road and with a bed fit for a jail cell. Safe to say it wasn't the Ritz. On the food front though things were looking up, we found the supermarket and grabbed a load of food for ... read more

Day 2 of Trek! As of afternoon, future updates involving the Pisco Sour dance we've been promised for tonight will have to occur later Today is one of the light days of the trek. Only the morning was hiking and the afternoon was open for a horseback ride if people wanted to take one. I was tempted, but I've only ever been disappointed with horseback rides led by groups because they're so slow-going and all I want to do is make the horse run, or at least canter. I also decided a relaxing afternoon was in the cards after how fast paced this trip has been. ... read more

We thought we had experienced some horrendous bus journeys on the trip so far but the bus journey from Puno to Cusco was by far the worst yet. You might remember from the previous blog that we were getting the bus from La Paz to Puno. Well we arrived in Puno and we left as soon as we got there - the best way to describe it - a concrete jungle. When we were on the bus to Puno we ended up seeing the three Swedes again who told us they were getting another bus straight to Cusco that day. We found the guy who was selling the bus tickets and we were shown outside to wait for our bus. Around ten minutes later a bus pulls up to our platform which we had seen just ... read more