Blogs from Cusco, Peru, South America - page 430

Ohhh boy... Not a good day! It began with all of the best intentions. We were supposed to take a bus back up to the eastern slope then begin a bike decent westward towards the sacred valey. Well, I´m not sure what happend, perhaps some bad logical in my decision making, but I some how got seperated from my group and ended up in paultambo (sp?) alone. I made the assumption that the group would arrive in the same city as I, but after a two our wait I realized things had gone bad. I suspected the team took an alternate route back to cusco, thus by passing me. I spoke to some of the locals and determined that the buses going to cusco (which we were heading) only leave at 2 and 8 pm. ... read more

At just after 7am the blinding rays of the sun forked above the towering mountain overlooking the ancient lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu. A few of us gathered at the site of the original sundial, which captured the falling rays, its only blemish being a corner missing, carelessly knocked off by a visiting film crew some years ago. We wandered around the maze of largely empty buildings and terraces and breathed in the quiet spirituality exuding from every nook and cranny. The location is simply out of this world, majestic beyond belief. It has to be our top site/highlight of our trip around the world! The Taj Mahal was special, the temples of Angkor in Cambodia were even more spectacular and extensive, but Machu Picchu comes out top, in more ways than one! Machu ... read more

- FOOD: Excellent food on the tour, especially the soups and supplies of popcorn. Live termites that taste of mint. Animal shaped biscuits (so yummy) and Sublime bars - we're addicted. - AREA: In the jungle, the mighty jungle.... WOW. A must experience. Everything is huge - including the spiders. Such a variety of plant and animal life, but didn't see any anacondas still. Mountain biking, white water rafting, canopy sliding and staying in wooden lodges in the middle of the jungle. - PEOPLE: Fantastic tour group. Apart from them, we didn't see many others except for the lucky few that live in the tiny villages in the jungle. - WEATHER: It ain't called a rainforest for nothing.... Monday 20th: I persuaded Stephen (who is Belgian living in New York by the way - I'm getting ... read more

Today we have a day to rest. I think everybody needs it. We are all happy we all made it all the way on the trail . What an experience it was. The day was spent wandering around the city and enjoying artisian craft shopping. Peruvians make some of the most beautifull handicraft. ... read more

Got my luggage this morning. Straight home after for shower and change. Felt like that Tom Hanks character in Castaway afterwards, after when he´s rescued. Or The Elephant Man when they put him in a suit, although he was still quite ugly, poor chap. But given that bump on my head from the embarrassing incident (Stop telling people, Elizabeth) it´s a fitting comparison. I should have mentioned earlier perhaps that Cusco is great. And, if you´re going to visit, June is the month to do it. It´s festival season. You can barely turn a street corner without being confronted by hordes of dancing Peruvians (some of them adorable little kids), parades with floats or music of some sort. The main square is packed every night. The architecture is lovely. I´m not sure Inca masonry will ever ... read more