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Published: December 6th 2007
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Hey guys sorry we've been quiet for a while but Brendon and I have been a bit busy climbing mountains and stuff.
We'd like to congratulate a few people here. My big cousinn Anne and her new husband Trev for getting married and congratulations for the birth or your beautifull baby boy Richie. Also a big congratulation's to Karen and Graham for the birth of their gorgeous blonde baby boy Jude. Congratulations to Louise and Jake for the arrival of lovely wee Ryan wish we could be there to meet all these boys. Congratulations Michelle and Mark (Mr and Mrs Scott) for getting married in september would love some pics. Congratulations to Clare and Paul let me know how your wedding went xxx Love to you all from Karen and Brendon xx
Well folks we did it Brendon and I trekked for 3 1/2 days through the Andies following the ancient Inca trail, it was awesome but really really tough, the best way to describe it is it was like heaven and hell on the same trip. We spent a couple of days in Lima then a couple of days in Cussco getting used to the high altitude. It
is harder to breath in high altitude and some people get sick from it but thankfully Brendon and I climatized fairly well.
Day 1! We arrive at the check in point with our group and group leader, included in our trip we had porters to carry all our stuff, these guys are amazing they carry 5 kilos of personal stuff for each person, all the camping gear, food for 4 days a dining tent, a kitchen tent and other bits and pieces needed. Peruvians are petite but these guy are so strong they run past you up hills with all this stuff we had 18 porters and 16 people on our group.
The first day was easy compared to the rest it was steady all the way to first campsight with amazing sceanery along the way. A few people were feeling nervous including me as you hear stories of people having to turn back with altitude sickness. Our guide Silver was really good and has lots of knowledge of the Incas although a lot of the facts have still to be uncovered. The Incas lived off cultivating crops on the ledges that they built into the mountains.
There is still
some people living a basic lifestyle on the trail earning money from selling stuff to tourist and farming.
The thing I loved most about Peru was they still had evidence of there past culture the older generation still wear traditional fashion.
The food that was cooked for us on the trail by the chef and his assistant was all pretty good and after walking you were well ready for it. We were spoiled a bit with getting our stuff carried and wakeing up to a hot drink and a bowl of hot water for washing but don't be lead to think that this was easy we walked all day from early morning to early evening, hardly slept as we were camping, had no showers, and the toilets made the ones at T in the park civilised all this was the hell part but the sceanery, history and the feeling of achievment was what made it heaven.
Day 2! This was the hardest day in terms of reaching the highest peak with the steapest incline. Most of the first half or the day is uphill after walking for about 2 hours we arrived at the bottom of the incline up
to the highest point and I can't tell you how much I wanted to cry. Brendon and I agreed that we would do it at our own pace and he was always up front, Brendon doesn't like to feel like he's behind it makes him feel like he has forever to go and also he was finding it easier than most of the group in fact he was flying round it. I was happier with the back group most of the time. We were having a laugh and stopping to look at the sceanery and stuff, we were all egging each other on as well when anyone started to struggle. When we reached the bottom of the steap incline up to the highest point, 4125 above sea level and takes 2 hours to get up, I though I was going to die but I pulled myself together and though right I'm getting up this but not slowly I wanted to get up there asap I stuck Razorlight on my I pod and went for it I was the 4th person to get up I couldn't believe it. Brendon arrived up with Kerry from New Zealand both in joint 2nd (this
wasn't a race but I was so chuffed at being in the front group for the hardest part) and then 10 mins later I arrived expecting to see more than 3 people at the top. The top is called dead womans pass as from a distance it looks like a woman lying down when you arrive you can pile a stone on top of others and make a wish. After all this we still had 4 hours to walk all down hill some found this easier but I prefered the uphill I didn't feel confident on it I felt I was going to fall but Brendon true to form was down like a shot I was so proud of him on all the trail.
Day 3! I felt this was just as hard as day 2 because we were so tired from lack of sleep, from the hard day before and most of it was steep downhill murder for me. We also got up at 5am that morning so we could arrive at the last campsight before all the other groups. All they way through the trail the sceanery is awesome and you feel amazed that you are walking through the Andies mountains. The Incas did this trail for spiritual reasons they didn't worship a god they worshiped the mountains and the sun. At the final campsight they have showers woopie! Which was one of the reasons for wanting to get there first to get them at the cleanest they also have bar. At this point we felt great we only have a half a day more to walk we are clean and we're getting closer to civilisation.
Day 4! The last day! This day is mostly on the flat thank goodness and takes about 3 hours we leave around 5.30 am so we can arrive before all the tourists that went up on the train. When we arrive at the sun gate we all feel elated and very proud of ourselves. Then Silver gave us a tour of Macchu Picchu which could possibly be the best sceanery I have ever seen in my life. When you look at the other mountains around and see what Macchu Picchu would have looked like before the Incas arrived you realise how amazing the Incas were. When they arrived here they had to take down all the trees and bushes on the mountain and then they built Macchu Picchu. They built in the crop ledges and built a worship temple, the Incas always managed to build the place's of worship perfectly alined with the sunrise and they were built with huge bits of stone that were all shaped different but all fit together like a jigsaw. They reckon but are not sure that the Incas lived to between 90 and 100 years old. Unfotunately when the spansh invaded Peru they wiped the Incas out. They killed all the Chuskies (nobble men) and some other men some got to live as did most of the women and children. The spanish men reproduced with the women that were spared and this is why Peruvians retain some Inca features.
After a few well deserved party nights in Peru we headed to Santiago Chile for a few days it's mainly to catch a flight to New Zealand and we're still tired from Peru so we took it easy. We saw some of the sight's and met some people we've met on the way then went for our flight. The most exciting thing about Chile was that the band the Killers were on our flight from Santiago to Auckland we were delayed for 3 hours and shared the departure lounge with Mr Brandon Flowers and his crew.
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