http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from South America , Peru , Cusco en-us Fri, 27 Nov 09 03:04:50 +0000 Fri, 27 Nov 09 03:04:50 +0000 Mike and I were finally on our trip to Peru October 30 2009 after 10 months of planning and lots of reseasrch it was happening Our first leg of the trip after arriving in Lima took us to the city of Cusco in the central Andes mountain region where we hailed a taxi and headed for a village about an hour away on the western edge of the Sacred Valley. Ollantaytambo is a typical town with cobble http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Sacred-Valley/blog-455865.html The bus ride to Santiago was uneventful. We were seated in the very front of the bus so I didnt sleep very well. I didnt sit by the heater this time so that helped but I could not get comfortable. We arrived in the bus station and took two taxis right away to the airport. We checked in and went through security with no problems. I got a breakfast sandwich at Dunkin Donuts while we waited. We boa http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Machu-Picchu/blog-454897.html Hi EveryoneIts Nat again. Just a really quick update today. Yesterday we went to Ollantaytambo Oyantaytambo. Very cool town built by the Incas. Cobblestone streets and all... Very nice.... but TODAY...We went to Machu Picchu We got up very early this morning and took the train to Aguas Calientes which is a small town that built up quickly for all the tourists flocking to Machu Picch http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Aguas-Calientes/blog-454510.html JThe first drama of the trip happened before we had even left Cusco. Neither of us own hiking boots suitable for the trek and not wanting to buy them we found a place where we could rent them for a week. We tried on a few pairs and found some that we liked so booked them for the trip. We returned to pick them up on the evening before the trek only to find that there had been a minor problem. http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Inca-Trail/blog-454507.html Day 1 up at 4am and then bus to a town called Ollantaytambo for breakfast. Back on the bus to KM82 2750m the famous starting point of the classic Inca trail. Then you walk along the river for a bit before you start to climb gently up and down rolling hills...the Peruvian flat. At one point we stopped and saw some ruins from a distance called Llactapata which were pretty big. This site was a http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Inca-Trail/blog-454442.html Er kam sah und siegte DIch habe einen treck gemacht. das hat mir supergut gefallen. mit vielen bergen und schoenen momenten.meine erste exkursion ohne probleme. es hat zwar viel geregnet das wort regenzeit ist nicht falsch zu verstehen und einige haben in ihrem zelt gebadet aber mir gings immer gut. ich hab sogar kein geld ausgegeben weil wir abends immer gepockert haben und ich doch irgend http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Salkantay-Trail/blog-454200.html And so the countdown to the end of our South America trip begins We have only 3 dys left in this crazy beautiful challenging corupt and awe inspiring continent...which mebns only 3 more days of speaking in 'pretend' Spanish although our Spanish IS actually barely understndible now only 3 more days of taking random buses and only 3 more days of waking up each morning parying that last night http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Cusco/blog-453922.html BuonaseraAm back in Cuzco on a warm Saturday night after a full day exploring in the Sacred Valley. I visited many towns and villages including Urubamba Coya and Pisac. Having a driver whom I could ask to stop whenever I wanted was a real bonus.The whole valley is spectacular and the people very welcoming.....I hope this comes through in the images.I was fortunate to be in Pisac when they were http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Sacred-Valley/Huchuy-Cusco/blog-453236.html Hi everyoneThis is Ve writing as Nat is out of commision. Shes feeling better but isnt doing much other then sleeping. We arrived here at Huaran yesterday afternoon. We drove in from Cuzco and it was by far the most amazing drive ever. The winding road accompanied by the sight of the mountains was breath taking. As a matter of fact it knocked us both out for half of the drive as a result o http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Calca/blog-453149.html Off to CuzcoAnd so our real circumnavigation of the globe begins. We're off to Cuzco in Peru to spend a few days acclimatizing before we begin our slightly unconventional trek through the Andes.It's a very early start. We're all packed up again minus some of the things we needed specifically for Africa and while this is the biggest excursion away from home during this trip it's also our third so http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Cusco/Cusco/blog-451188.html Day OneThis morning we got up early got on the bus and drove straight to the airport for our trip to Cusco where we will spend the next several days. The city of Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire and is built in the shape of a puma an animal worshiped by the Inca. The word Cusco means navel of the world in Quechua.Upon arriving at the Cusco airport we got on our bus and headed rig http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/blog-450784.html Machu PichuWe awoke in darkness and some were far more awake than others. Irsquove never been a morning person but waking at 4am to start hiking in the dark for an hour or two is pushing the limits of my civility unless itrsquos a race and therefore competitive. Poor Penny has to deal with whatever fragile mask of humanity I can put on until my mind catches up with my body and manages http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Machu-Picchu/blog-450323.html All Saints Day and the locals celebrated with a civic and military parade around the main square known as Plaza de Armas. All the local worthies were settled in a canopy placed outside the Cathedral and the march pass began. It consisted of amongst others the army police government workers schoolchildren and even the road cleaners they came last with their brooms and shovels. Very colourful http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Cusco/blog-450052.html Machu PicchuWe are on the airplane flying from Peru to Salvador Brazil. We were in Machu Picchu yesterday.Tomorrow is Halloween at home in the USA. Halloween has been my favorite holiday foras long as I can remember. Kim and I both love dressing up and staying in character for the evening. One of my first memories was dressing up as the Riddler one of Batman's enemies. I think I was in the f http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Machu-Picchu/blog-449890.html It has been called one of the Wonders of the World and I can understand the reason why but the problemis that there are many others who think the same. We arrived at 10.30am and it appeared that all the other tourists in Peru were there as well. Although there are restrictions on numbers walking the Inca Trail leading to Machu Picchu there is no restriction on the number of people entering this w http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Machu-Picchu/blog-449816.html Inca Trail to Machu Picchu FAQWhat is the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is the most popular trail in the world. It is a sacred path used by the incas in ancient times. Inca Trail to Machu Picchu History The Inca Trail was used only for royal sacred and political reasons it was not just a route to this particular place its structure was built as a spir http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Cusco/Cusco/blog-449695.html The Inca Trail and Machu PicchuOct 21 24 2009CastmembersThe Hikers Kristy Kirstin Alan Rainuka Byron Helen Susan Asif Kelvin Janet Lisa Cathy David Alona and Dave meThe Guides Raul and RolandoThe Porters Too many to nameOct 21 2009 Day 1After individual briefings on Oct 20 our intrepid group of South American explorers were picked up by bus in Cusco starting at 600am. B http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Inca-Trail/blog-449048.html Cusco is a wonderful vibrant and historic city. In all measures it stands tall. It is also extremely touristy and I mean extremely. If Machu Picchu was an amusement park then Cusco is surely a circus. We had to come here though so much of Perursquos history is wrapped up in this city. Cusco was after all the heartland of the Inca empire and to them the navel of the world. Being here howev http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Pisac/blog-449038.html The Mission........ Trek to Machu Picchu along the Inca Trail and raise money for Marie Curie Cancer CareMission status COMPLETE The history bit......Machu Picchu Old Peak is a preColumbian Inca site located 2430 metres 8000 ft above sea level. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru which is 50 miles northwest of Cuzco and through w http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Inca-Trail/blog-449031.html Cusco itself is crowded overpriced and absolutely rammed full of tourists.... no wonder it is overpriced as the locals have cottoned on to the fact that the many rich americans that come here can pay much more than they're used to. Unfortunately this has led to more street hawking than I've seen anywhere else in both Ecuador and Peru. You can't walk two steps without being offered the same hats http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Pisac/blog-449023.html