Blogs from Machu Picchu, Cusco, Peru, South America - page 82

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South America » Peru » Cusco » Machu Picchu February 13th 2006

I spent a couple of days in Cuzco. I did the tourist circuit... saw some museums, ruins, movies, clubs, etcetera. I hung out with more Canadians. This Chilean girl said I looked like Michael Moore, it hurt my feelings. On Saturday morning I left for Macchu Picchu. The country of Peru has perhaps one of the best schemes going on. They make it impossible to travel to one of the world´s most visited historical sites by road. It is only accessible by train, at which they can charge any price. We took a cab as close as we could to the site, then trained it to Aguas Calientes aka Macchu Picchu Pueblo. It´s a town that isn´t more than seventy years old because it was invented for tourism. ($1.33 internet, 3 drinks for $5, one night ... read more
¿Llama or Alpaca?

South America » Peru » Cusco » Machu Picchu February 5th 2006

I can't believe I spent over 2 months in Columbia, and every day was worth it but my initial flight date came and went on February 2nd. I was able to extend the flight to the maximum 180 days but I wish now I could stay longer, as there is so much to see and do, and at the rate that I move I know I will miss a lot of things that I want to see. Realising that I have just over 2 months left I made a tough decision and decided cut out Ecuador and booked a flight to Lima Peru on the 29th from Bogota. After one last memorable weekend with some friends in the small city of Yopal 6 hours outside of Bogota I headed back to the capital to catch ... read more
Lima
Lima
Lima

South America » Peru » Cusco » Machu Picchu January 27th 2006

Ok from the last installement I left it at going Chivay. Chivay is a town located in the Colca Canyon. To get to Chivay from Arequipa we had to take a road which passed at 5000m which then dropped into the colca valley. Altitude seems to do some strange things to people, like give you a womans bladder needing a piss stop every 1/2 hour. Once we reached Chivay we went to visit the Colca Canyon and stopped at the Condor cross. It was amazing to see the scenery. We were also lucky enough to see 22 condors which flew right over or heads. Youll all be pleased to know its absolutely freezing in Chivay and felt even worse after to spending so much time at beach resorts. Then the next day was spent on the ... read more
Colca Canyon
Condor
Chivay

South America » Peru » Cusco » Machu Picchu January 24th 2006

First in line at the last checkpoint at 4.15am, the mist was still thick and drizzle in the air. The checkpoint opened at 5.30am, and by now there were a queue of people ready for the last hurdle. The last walk to Machu Picchu lasts for around 2 hours. After the first walk we reached the Sun Gate. And to dis-appointment, the Mist hasn´t budged, its way too thick to be able to see the site. We hang around for 45 minutes, but nothing, its too thick. So we make the last walk down. I got there first in our group, and through the mist, there it was!!! The mist just kept giving glimpses. But after a few hours it pretty much cleared, and there was the famous sight that you see in many pictures. Julio ... read more
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu

South America » Peru » Cusco » Machu Picchu January 19th 2006

The Inca trail to Machu Picchu Day 1 Monday 16 January 2006 we were picked up at dawn from Hostal Qorichaska in Cuzco by our tour operator. After about 2.5 hours of busriding through the Sacred Valley, we reached Ollantaytambo for breakfast and to stock up. Chocolate, snacks, and water were high on people´s lists, as well as coca leaves and walking sticks. The locals in the Andes have been chewing coca leaves for centuries in the belief that it aids against altitude sickness. Of course, there was only one way to find out, so we bought a bag of leaves. Coca leaves are used to produce the drug cocaine, however (and this is to calm down those worried parents out there), it takes about 2.5 kg of leaves to produce a single gram of cocaine, ... read more
Hostal Qorichaska
Km 82
Aashild at Km 82

South America » Peru » Cusco » Machu Picchu January 2nd 2006

Why would Dani chase a llama when we are on the top of a mountain with a rather large drop down the edge!? I am still not sure why, maybe it was for the photo, or maybe it was a territorial thing, i´m not too sure. Still, the llama won in the end. There is nothing bad i can say about Machu Picchu. Ok, i lie, there is one thing - bloody gringos outnumber the locals three to one - but apart from that its simply amazing! We must have had some Inka Kola god smiling down on us as when we got to the top of Machu Picchu (an ancient city hidden in the middle of the Peruvian Andes only re-discovered in 1911) the weather was perfect! Especially as we are nowhere near the start ... read more
Cusco - Plaza de Armas
Cusco cathedral
Can you guess what this is?

South America » Peru » Cusco » Machu Picchu January 1st 2006

We awoke bleary eyed and foggy headed on New Year´s day but had to make tracks and catch the evening train to Aguas Calientes, the nearest inhabited town to Machu Pichu. The train to Machu Pichu leaves from Olltaytambo, a small town nestled deep in the Sacred Valley. We arrived with time to spare and were lucky to witness the local´s New Year celebrations, consisting of beautiful Andean music and lots of funny dancing. All the locals were clothed in their colourful traditional wear which was quite a sight. After stumbling down a unlit road for about a mile, dodging trucks and nearly falling in the river, we arrived at the train station just in time, we settled into our seats next to a very loud family of brazillians who entertained us for the next 2 ... read more
Machu Pichu
Mr Llama
Machu Pichu

South America » Peru » Cusco » Machu Picchu December 31st 2005

Si fuese posible pedirle a Dios que nos vuelva a reunir algún día, ten por seguro que subiría a la montaña más alta para hablarle al oído Así fue que luego de pasar mi última Navidad con mi abuela, acordamos que llegaría a Machu Pichu, donde le pediría a Dios que la volviese a reunir con mi abuelo. Con bastantes lastres en mi corazón, fui haciendo mi camino, peregrinando sin saberlo.....cuzco, zacsahuaman, ollaitantambo.. Entre tours, conversaciones, ruinas y mucha diversión...me encontré con las personas justas, que gentilmente me ayudaron a ir por el Camino del Inca de Dos Días, a través de la jungla, de la lluvia y las estrellas. El gran descanso y la noche del amor infinito de Aguas Calientes........para luego pasar a través de la Puerta del Sol, hacia el Huayna Pichu, saltar ... read more
Inka trail
Inka road under the rain
Cascada bajo la lluvia, Inka road

South America » Peru » Cusco » Machu Picchu December 22nd 2005

Day 39 We said our goodbyes to our chums in the group as we were leaving the majority of them while they did the Inca trail. We got on a train, headed for Machu Picchu. Once we arrived, we had a 2 hour tour around the beautiful Inca city which was really interesting. It was really peaceful there and fortunately the weather stayed dry. The clouds that hung over the mountains added to the atmosphere and made it more magical. We climbed up to a view point where we sat and looked over the whole of the city. It was really lovely. We then caught the train back to Cusco, grabbed some food and went to sleeps. ... read more
Machu Picchu
The mystical moutains

South America » Peru » Cusco » Machu Picchu December 8th 2005

Machu Picchu....Ahhhh, what majestic beauty surrounded by such disgusting greed and exploitation. Being a lover of ancient ruins, I was excited about the prospect of visiting this amazing location. Little did I know, I would have to weed through the jungle of lies and deceit and, seemingly bribe, my way to the peak. Bribe may not be the best word for it- I felt more like robbed or raped of not only my money but my spirit as well. It began in Cuzco. Elisa and I had been travelling with a Lonely Planet guide book while it hasn't been completely accurate with its recommendations; it has been a valuable tool during our stay here in Peru. Armed with information about the train tickets from Cuzco to Aguas Calientes, I entered the train station confident. I was ... read more
Pisac Sun Temple
Bath Water
Pisac Ruins and Village




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