Blogs from Cusco, Peru, South America - page 428

This morning I got my internal flight from Lima to Cuzco high up in the Andes. It was pretty spectacular flying over the Andes and Cuzco itself is surrounded on all sides by the mountains. I was met at the airport by one of the TAPA staff, and we took a taxi to Urumbamba where TAPA have their HQ. We they continued on to Ollantaytambo where I´ll be based (avoiding the rocks laid across the road at various points, which had been carefully placed a day before as part of a ´general protest against transport´. Ollantay is quite something, surrounded on all sides by high mountains (or hills as they call them here). Pretty much all the buildings are traditional mud-brick structures separated by narrow cobbled streets... not a stretch of tarmac to be seen! The ... read more

After all of our skiing, we were off to Peru!! We headed to Cusco - the main town for hikers to Machu Picchu to congregate and head out. Really nice, relaxing town. We loved it! We stayed in a fantastic hostel called Los Ninos. It was founded by a German couple who started a hostel to sponsor some of poor children in Cusco. Giving them jobs and teaching them important skills. All the rooms are named after the original children sponsored, and much of small cost to stay still goes towards chilren's charities. There was fresh bread with jam and hot coca tea waiting for us on arrival. All for about $25 USD per night. Amazing place! The streets of Cus... read more

The last days of Cusco! As Cusco wears on we are really looking forward to some new experiences. This city is becoming annoying with all the people trying to sell you something, you can’t relax in the plaza with a book for more than a few minutes without someone trying to sell you something or shine your shoes or get you to eat in their restaurant. The best way to avoid this is the internet café’s and hanging out at the school or just keeping moving. I can’t wait to shed my ever present day pack, get some real exercise and be out in the natural world again. I can’t wait to get out of town and on the Inca Trail. My only comforts these days are morning coffee at the same café with Jake and ... read more

¡Hola todos! Grab a cup of coffee, it is another long one. By the way, thanks for all the positive feedback on the blog so far. I am no longer having trouble with uploading photos so enjoy. Thursday, June 30th The first week of Spanish classes are coming to a close for us and sitting in class for 4 hours every afternoon while the city of Cusco hums and buzzes is not an easy task. Add to the fact that I have spent most mornings this week trying to sleep in and recover from being ill and feeling weak only to get up, head to the cybercafé and spend hours uploading photos to no avail (looks like a big slideshow and wine dinner when I get back folks, for the rest not in SF, once I ... read more

Planerad vaeckning var 04.00. Men det blev en aennu tuffare morgon foer vaar del. Jenny hade knappt sovit denna natt och naer Lisa vaknade 03.15 foer att gaa paa toa upptaeckte hon en svart haarig jaette spindel i taket paa vaart taelt. Rationella Lisa funderade hur vi skulle komma ut ur taeltet lugnt och foersiktigt.... skraecken var att spindeln skulle hoppa ner till/paa oss! Med tidigare erfarenheter i tankarna, med att Jenny inte gillar stora insekter typ kackerlackor. Foersokte Lisa lugnt och pedagogiskt saega: - Jenny, skrik inte nu. Res dig inte upp. (Lisa riktade ner pannlampan ner mot golvet foer att Jenny inte skulle se spindeln) Nu kryper vi ut ifraan taeltet lugnt & stilla. En nyvaken Jenny foeljde order snaellt. Och vael ute ifraan taeltet, befallde Lisa till porters. - OYE! Senores! Hay una ... read more