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Huacachina
lovely oasis 29/05/09
Arrived at 8 lust night and got a taxi to a lovely hotel.
After quite a few nights of not sleeping well it was nice to just lie in, so we only woke up in Huacachina at 10. Checked out of a lovely hostel the best so far had its on pool and very nice rooms.
Climbed the dune overlooking the oasis , fortunately I did not have my backpack or I would have died!
The view away from the oasis is lovely however I feel the commercialisation has ruined an otherwise lovely place.
Walked back to town and just relaxed after a leisurely meal.
Back at the hotel we met a family from London who were over meeting up with there 19 yr old daughter that had been through S America on her own , she was however very good at Spanish which helps
Chatted to them for a couple of hrs then went to get the overnight bus to Araquipa which was late and also very untidy but this seems to be
The food however is very nice.
After a restless night and finding that you need to be a Gorilla to open the toilet we were
woken up just before Araquipa to an annoying slapstick DVD.
Found a hostel for 40 sol per night after driving around for a bit and will look around later.
30/05/09
Went for a walk around the city centre which was very nice, with lots of old Spanish Architecture. Found a Place that did lunch for 9 sole which I found to be a little cheap for me, Then we walked into a travel agency to see what was available, as we wanted lo go to the Colcha valley whilst we were in Araquipa. well they did have a daytrip to the valley but it left at 230 am which 'was not too keen on as I had not slept well the night before on the bus but still decided lo give it a go for 100 soles. We also got a bus first class to Cusco on-the 31st night for 80 Soles which was I thought a good deal as Cruz Del Sur were 110 for The same route. So with this all booked and paid for I went to bed early at 8 to try get the most sleep would before heading off at 230 am.
31/05/09
l am starting to learn that in Pens when you are told a specific time they are prob lying or just don’t know about western time standards. Bus picked as up at 3.00 am and then still had lo pick up another 2 people. Anyway I sat at the back of the bus, a Peugot of some sort, which was a bad idea as it was just the right place of get launched from when we hit a bump of which in Peru, there are many. At 315 am are set off for the Colcha canyon, the deepest in the world! But to get there we had to pass over 16000 ft which did cause some slight headaches, not to mention that the road was the worst tar road I have ever been on!!
When we went over the 16000 ft mountain pass the windows of the bus started to freeze with the condensation on the inside.
The Colcha canyon is famous for the Condor which can be seen flying on the thermals from 8 in the morning, and I was fortunate to get a lovely seat to take so many photos, I had to stop at
80 odd.
The group was with had a geologist from Brazil which was great as he explained how all the rock formations were formed as there is a fault line through the valley as well.
The valley is also very famous for all the terraces that the Incas created so as to feed their population which they were very successful at In fact most of the surrounding area is terraced to some extent as well. With hindsight I would have gone for 2-3 days to the valley as if was so interesting to see from my farming background. To think that they have been cultivating the same area for 1000 + years and have not ruined the soil is amazing.
Took the bus back and arrived exhausted in Araquipa at 1615 after having a great day with a fabulous group of people, who helped as out with some extra info for Cusco.
Got onto the bus with CIAL to Cusco which had lovely reclining leather seals. Had a simple evening meal, an anti inflammatory and slept for the next 8 hrs.
1/06/09
Arrived in Cusco lo be picked up and taken to our hotel WARICOCHA Which was very pleasant
but noisy if you are in a room facing the street, in fact if they offer you a room facing the street go somewhere else!
Went of a patisserie called BUENO PASTOR absolutely fabulous then back to the hotel where I started to feel rough, the onset of altitude sickness that left me bedridden for the next 18 hrs.
l am amazed that the symptoms of altitude sickness subside so quickly when hit with a good dose of paracetamol.
2/06/09
The hotel I stayed at was so! Noisy and I have now heard my fill of Peruvian music, someone was playing non stop last night on their guitar for about 5 hrs, which was not the problem, it was basically the same song!
Woke this morning not refreshed, but at least able to function. These Pilots that play with their’s and others lives by flying over 10000 ft really need to come to Cusco to learn how bad it can be.
Had save breakfast with 2 cups of coco tea with a co codamol and I was right as rain. Then headed to our new hotel 40 sole per night and breakfast and tree WI FI. What a
deal!
Cheeked email and then out for the day just relaxing around Cusco by far my most favourite of the Peruvian cities for me, I am just overwhelmed by the exhaust fumes. Went lo a few travel agencies and got some prices for Macchu Pitchu with the Prices varying from $160. $600 for 4 days 5 nights.
Also had a look at Prices to go to Amazon.
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