http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from South America , Peru , Cusco en-us Mon, 16 Nov 09 21:47:30 +0000 Mon, 16 Nov 09 21:47:30 +0000 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 Part of me never wanted to come to Machu Picchu. A bigger part did. So today we are now atop South America's most iconic historical monument.Those superb pictures of this mountain top city surrounded by cloud forest dropping away rapidly to the valleys below could hardly be more stunning. Being here though tipping down with rain crammed with other tourists in their brightly coloured ponchos http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Machu-Picchu/blog-448424.html INKA TRAIL 21.24.10.2009Voi ystvt kalliit ett voi olla jotakin niin mahtavaa kuin Andit. Tll vuoret nyttvt erittin paljon vuorilta suorastaan vuorien perikuvilta ja vastaavasti laaksot laaksojen perikuvilta. Pohjalla virtaa aina pyh joki. Pelto ei lopu ojaan tiehen tai metsn vaan kkijyrkkn vuorenseinmn joka kohoaa tuhansia metrej ylspin. Aivan kuin vuoret kasvaisivat su http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Machu-Picchu/blog-448402.html The plan was to set out at 7 am. Jeff the owner of the closest thing to a biker bar in Cuzco had given me on the scoop on the back door entrance to The Citadel. Follow the route to Santa Maria via Oyantantambo and turn left. Follow that road to its end at the hydroelectric plant and walk from there. Simple. Of course my seven o'clock start became an 8 o'clock start before I left the bar be http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Machu-Picchu/blog-448363.html After 4 days 30 miles walking 15250 feet one glacial mountain pass high jungles hot springs some rain and lots of mosquitos Lauren and I finally made it to Machu PicchuTo say the Salkantay trek was difficult is an understatement but it was certainly fun and rewarding Cannot wait to fill everyone in on the details. Sorry I have been a blogtard lately... http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Salkantay-Trail/blog-448236.html Inca Trail Wow what can we say We had the most amazing hike. It had everything mountains altitude ruins and a bit of junglehellipas well as lotrsquos of interesting people.Our first morning we were all picked up in a bus and taken to the start of the trailhellipI really wasnrsquot functioning so well as it was about 530am when we were collected. We arrived at the trail and got http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/blog-448195.html Some photos from the long march. http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Salkantay-Trail/blog-447911.html It's been a long time since I last wrote but I'm glad you're still around to read all about my adventures There seems to be a bit of an issue with blogging. When I'm off doing lots of stuff that you might want to hear about I don't have time to write about it but then when I'm just hanging around at home I have all the time in the world to tell you about all of the nothing that I'm up to. Wel http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Cusco/Cusco/blog-447880.html