http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from South America , Peru en-us Sat, 26 Jul 2008 07:23:20 BST Sat, 26 Jul 2008 07:23:20 BST Thursday July 24 2008. Rosersquos sister Valeria arrived the night before and stayed at our apartment. She and Rose had a great time unpacking the tons of stuff she brought with her and deciding what went where. We had already decided that our luggage was overweight so we packed as much stuff as we could live without and sent it from Lima to Chiclayo by bus. Valerie did the same only t http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Lambayeque/Chiclayo/blog-304553.html Ok just a quick one from cusco. Great little city with great night out last night even with all the other gringos tho bin sick 8 times today and still feeling edgy. Going on the inka jungle trek tomorrow which should be ace. mountain biking hot springs jungle etc. Cant wait. http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Cusco/Cusco/blog-304518.html Just made it to Yurimaguas after leaving Iquitos 4 days ago. Whew... such a relief. I have really enjoyed the landscape and local culture but traveling alone and speaking as little spanish as I do has beentrying. In the past 4 days I have only come across 3 people who speak English often going days at a time speaking only spanish I have found myself having the same conversation with all the lo http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/blog-304453.html Er was eens... een verschrikkelijk oncomfortabel vliegtuigzitje aan een aangedampt raampje waar je je benen net niet in je nek moet vouwen idyllisch gelegen aan de hygienische voorzieningen die om de haverklap gebarricadeerd werden door individuen met hevige ontlasting of letterlijk en figuurlijk schreeuwlelijke zuigelingen. Reken daarnaast een brave buur met een afgrijselijk onverstaanbaar Londe http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Lima/Lima/Barranco/blog-304118.html Back in S. America but this time w my brother Nick. We arrived in Lima on July 21 but unfortunatly his back didnt arrive until the following day We stayed in an area called Barranco at the Barranco Backpackers Inn. Very nice place clean great help w getting back his bag. We met a few people from the US Spain and Canada. Randomly we ran into a kid from Oregon at on of the churchmuseums a http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Lima/Lima/Barranco/blog-304084.html I rolled out of bed this morning about 11am. I was feeling surprisingly Ok luckily last night I had stuck to the same drink most of the night and at the end I was drinking water We decided to get some fresh air so went for a walk around the main square and headed to a cafe for some much needed breakfast and coffee. We needed to be more awake as we had booked to go horse riding round some Incan r http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Cusco/Cusco/blog-304046.html We got up at 4am to start the pitch black trek to the sun gate. It tooks us about an 1 12hrs to get there and we had to walk with our torches with all the bugs flying round the light. When we arrived at the gate there was loads of cloud covering Machu Picchu so we didnt get a very good view which was a shame. We waited for a bit and the cloud started the clear enough to be able to see a little bi http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Inca-Trail/blog-304037.html We got a flight in the morning from Cusco to Purto Maldenado in the Amazon Rainforest. It was really hot when we arrived so much different to what it had been in Peru must have been about 30 degrees. We took at boat to get to where we were staying. I managed to knock my sunglasses in the river Opps sorry debs I know you got them for me On the journey we saw some of their wildlife we s http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Amazonas/blog-304030.html I woke up this morning feeling very proud of myself. My legs were so sore it hurt to even get out of bed not a good start to the day Gonzalo bought round another coca tea and the porters gave us some hot water to wash with. The start of the day was uphill which was a struggle but I managed it After that we had about 2000 steps down some people tried to count them but they were very distinctive http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Inca-Trail/blog-304026.html After the Inca trail we returned to Cusco. I was really tired but we went out to celebrate. We went to a bar and strated to play drinking games. I was drinking vodka and raspberry cocktails so it was only going to get messy from then on We went to a club and it was suggested if we danced on th bar we would get free drinks how could I refuse such an offer so was a pretty cheap night and lots http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/blog-304021.html A group of us from the spanish school decided to forgo two days of class to take a trip to the Peruvian Amazon. Reputed to be one of the best places in the world to see wildlife we decided the tradeoff would be worth it. It is reported to be the home to 20000 species of flora and over 1300 species of butterflies and hundreds of other insects. We went with an organized tour through a company ca http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Madre-de-Dios/Puerto-Maldonado/Amazon-Rainforest/blog-303824.html Hello again We are finally finding some spare time to write a few entries about the last few days. When we last wrote we were heading to Machu Picchu. We arrived there by train on the Vistadome a nice way to travel with huge windows and skylights for viewing the mountain scenary as you zigzag up the mountain. Once we entered the gate to Machu Picchu we were both amazed at the majesty of this a http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Machu-Picchu/blog-303789.html Isnt it funny how a taxi driver is happy to rip you off but you try to do the same then hell breaks loose.After getting to the central square at 5am being told by the Lonely Planet that a coffee shop would be open I decided to get a taxi back to the station to get the fuck out of dodge.TranslatedMe Good morning sir. Tereste bus station please.Driver Good morning sir. Si no problem.Me H http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Arequipa/Arequipa/blog-303787.html Gonzalo woke us up early today with a coca tea the porters had made us breakfast. Again there was loads of food but we had a big day ahead of us we needed the energy We packed our stuff up and left our duffle bags at the campsite. Before we left we met all the porters we had 16 in total a chef assistant chef head porter waiter and 12 general porters. They each introduced themselves in Spani http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Inca-Trail/blog-303766.html Ok so we left arequipa on a bus to puno across a monsterously high pass 4500m i think. This took 5 hours and was not the best journey of our lives but got here all the same. Puno is right on the lake shore and after walking round for a long while we founda hostel san carlos we liked and got it cheapoooo. The room has windows which leak so it is horiffically cold at night but its all gravy. http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Puno/Lake-Titicaca-/Uros-Island/blog-303754.html Het allereerste nieuwtje vanuit Lollig Lamaland dat ik jullie voorschotel is meteen een beetje luguber ren tijdig naar de hygienische voorzieningen in de buurt als het wat te veel wordt gnagna Zondagavond ben ik in het gezelschap van de halve schoonfamilie met de bus van 7.30u vertrokken van Lima naar Chiclayo. Bolleke en ik hadden later gererveerd want we waren pas om elf uur vanuit Cuzco kome http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Lambayeque/Chiclayo/blog-303749.html I just came back from Machu Picchu last night. I took the easiest of the alternative treks the official Inca Trail was booked up in February or something like that called the Inka Jungle trek. On Saturday I met up with a group of other tourists from France and Holland and we left Cusco for bike ride down a large mountain. After several hours of a bumpy road and sore ass we arrived to the sma http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Machu-Picchu/blog-303683.html Well yesterday was a fun day. I learned a new Spanish word marcapaso which means pacemaker. I just had one of those installed in my chest about one week prior to leaving the States. It started oozing a little and Rose freaked out. She made me call my cardiologist using our Skype connection via the laptop www.skype.com. Long story short cardiologist said Get thee to the nearest emergen http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Lima/Lima/Miraflores/blog-303677.html When we arrived at the start of the Inca trail we went through a check point and made our way up the trail. It was quite difficult to start with and I struggled with the altitude a bit and couldnt my breathing right Me and Helen definately took out time getting up the trail. It was good though as we could stop to have a look around and see the views of the mountains.We were really surprised with http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Inca-Trail/blog-303634.html We started at kilometer 82 which is where most people start the 4 day hike. I had just about managed to fit my sleeping bag a thermarest and enough changes of clothes into a duffle bag. We were only allowed 6kg so it was a struggle as most of you probably know I dont like to pack light Before we knew it the proters had made a headstart with all our luggage and the food and tents and everything http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Inca-Trail/blog-303623.html We wake at 9am and discover that we have slept for 14 hours solid but it was definately needed. We have one more full day left in Cusco before we leave to fly to Lima and then onto Brazil. We have a pile of washing to sort and I want to buy some footwear that is appealing to my toes so we get ourselves organised.We are meeting up with the rest of the group this evening in the main plaza so we sp http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Cusco/blog-303609.html Okay so after a few hours sleep we are up and about again at 4.30am. Javier our guide was waiting in the lobby of our hotel and we set off the short walk to the bus station to get the first bus up to Machu Picchu. We are both shattered but really excited about finally seeing the inca ruins in all their glory. After a 30 minute wait it was worth getting there early because it got very busy at a http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Machu-Picchu/blog-303588.html The 19 12 hour journey from Cuzco to Lima was the worst bus journey we've done by a long way. We got on and almost immediately they fed us the usual bus slop for dinner just after you finish you start bend after bend after bend. This continues for 4 hours until you stop in Abancay. From then on you get a few seconds of straight road and then bends all through the night. We managed to sleep ok b http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Lima/Lima/Lima/blog-303364.html We left Puno early and headed to Cusco all hoping that the strike was over and we didnt get stopped just outside the city. Apparently during the strikes people block off all the roads with big stones and boulders and if any cars come along they start throwing rocks at them...hence all the worrying when we left Luckily when we got nearer to Cusco the stones had been removed enough to allow vehic http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Cusco/Cusco/blog-303269.html Lake Titicaca is one of Perus greatest sources of pride. In fact they are greedily seeking a nomination as another wonder of the world which to be honest I feel is a bit over the top. Its a big lake very high in altitude but its not so wondrous as to count as Perus second submission into the pool. Our tour leaves at 645 am and thankfully we are both rested because the frigid cold immediatel http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/blog-303250.html note This entry is all about runon sentences and captions for the photos.It was Tuesday the 15th at about 815 am at our regular morning organizational meeting. Forty plus volunteers are sitting in an outdoor area of a place known as Base Camp where at least half of the volunteers have slept the previous night in two dorm rooms. The de facto leader Jimmy an under30 thinframed scraggly http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Ica/Pisco/blog-302937.html Not to be egocentric but I have to get something off my chest.... My debit card has been stolen Its very unfortunate. My inability to guard my possessions effectively has finally bitten my in the arse. Now that Ive gotten that out of the way on to the past couple of truly lovely days in Southern Peru. Last I left off I think we were about to head back to Cusco. We left Aguas Calientes on the t http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/blog-302919.html I am not sure why such landscapes barren windswept plains sometimes guarded by sweeps of mountains all various shades of browns golds and muted greens endless sky above make my heart swell so. It's not like I grew up in such an environment. But I felt the tug in the steppes of Mongolia and I felt it this time in the Peruvian altiplano. Of course these types of places are tough diffic http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Puno/Lake-Titicaca-/blog-302900.html HolaHow are you all in wintery for most AustraliaWell Nick and I are in Nazca at the moment. We have just had a LOOOONG day sightseeing and waiting around today. The South Americas move on South American time very slowlyI wont go into too much detail on this blog of what weve done as well be leaving soon. Were heading out on an overnight bus to Arequipa. This is where our trip star http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Ica/Nazca/Nazca-Lines/blog-302896.html