Blogs from Urubamba, Cusco, Peru, South America - page 2

Ollanataytambo is a massive stone fortress thought to be the only remaining example of pre-Columbian urban planning. The terraces were built on the mountainside to make farming possible. The irrigation systems are an architectural accomplishment that are still in use today. The construction of the temple it at the highest point of the town and the living spaces are at the base. The Incas also had very large and effective storage systems for their food. When the Spaniards arrived they had enough food for 7 years. The hiking stick came in very handy today indeed. The vista from the top is a just reward for the huffing and puffing (remember we are at about 9,000 feet). Moving slowly is a major key to getting to the top successfully. In the town below the locals are selling ... read more

Today was our adventure day out on our own. It came with a warning to Andrew that I only had a vague idea of exactly how we were going to get around and that a lot of it may be a guessing game. There seemed to be somewhat limited information online about getting to and from las salinas near maras unless you wanted to go on a tour. So, armed with my little bit of Spanish, we took off to find the mini buses. When we got to the street with the mini buses, I tried to haggle on the price, but they weren't budging. Then, I saw that the price was printed on a sign, so I assumed this was not a time for haggling and we jumped in one. This was an hour ride ... read more

Met up with Jasmin in Cuzco where I promptly fell ill. We made it to Urubamba in a crowded collectivo. I was so sick I didn't even notice the town was nestled in lush mountains. Of all the places I could have gotten sick, this was the most luxurious place I could have recuperated thanks to Jasmin and her points. After a full day sleeping the next day we got out and saw the Moray archeological site and Maras salt mines. We moved on to Ollantaytambo, super cute town. We went to the south side of town and climbed all over the ruins.... read more

The guide met us in the lobby. We had already checked out and eaten breakfast. Off to the airport for a short flight to Cuzco or as the Quachua spell it Cosco. Another excellent flight on LAN. So far the airline has been spectacular in service and hospitality. Our guide, Carlos Sottomayor and our driver Jose, met us at the airport. Once loaded into the van it was off to Urubamba in the Sacred Valley. Carlos is a mixtos, his mother is Incan and his father of Spanish decent. He is a fount of information about the Sacred Valley and the Incan civilization. His depth of knowledge and clarity of explanation were as if listening to an historian and an anthropologist. Later the archaeologist in him would appear. The trip to Urubamba from Cosco starts with ... read more

Hallo zusammen So, ich bin wieder zurueck vom Lares Trek. Es hat mir super gefallen. Leider war das Wetter nicht so optimal, aber wir hatten Glueck, dass es immer erst anfing zu regnen, wenn wir bereits unsere Zelte aufgestellt haben! Sodeli, von Anfang an.... also ich habe Christian (Guide von Salkantay Trek) getroffen und zuerst, hat er einen anderen Trek vorgeschlagen, doch da in Peru Wahlen sind, wurde es kompliziert mit der Organisation des Treks. In Peru geht das so vor sich, also wenn jemand z. B. aus Puno kommt, aber in Cusco lebt, muss er nach Puno reisen und dort seine Stimme geben. Falls man nicht waehlen geht, wird man mit einer Busse bestraft (Sol. 180.-- , ca. US 60.--). Das ist hier viel Geld! und die Leute in den Bergdoerfer muessen zur naechst groesseren ... read more