The pictures are:
1. Breakfast in Cuzco
2. Me and the locals at MP
3. Ollaytatambo
4. School kids in uniform
5. Just after the fog lifted early in the morning at MP
I started the tales of the south America journey a bit ago and almost got to the end when I hit the road again here in North America. I didn't want to leave it out or have it be finished in months so I will rap it up here.
Last I wrote about us being in Puno and visiting the Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca. At that point we had seen some amazing things, but the best was yet to come. We were on our way to Cuzco, The sacred valley, and Machu Picchu.
We took a early afternoon bus to Cuzco and after a beautiful drive arrived just after dark. We tried to stay with the brother of the people we stayed with in Arequipa (Marlon of Marlon's travels) but his place was full for the night, so he sent us to his neighbor's place.
We then went back to Marlon's place so he could help us book our trip to Machu Picchu. Originally I think we were going to go straight there, but Marlon talked us into adding a tour of the Sacred Valley on the way, and I'm glad he did. There is a lush green valley with various ruins and charming little towns, leading up to Machu Picchu and it is well worth the visit.
I got up early and went with Marlon to the train station to try to get tickets for later that night. The only way to reach Aguas Calientes (the small town at the base of MP) is by train or walking. We did not have time to walk via the famous Inca Trail, so we were after train tickets. Unfortunately they were sold out for the day, so we bought tickets to do the same the next day. We had wanted to arrive back in Cuzco with a day to spare before our flight to Lima, but had the spare day in the beginning instead. All it meant is that the morning we would return from MP we would go straight to the airport. I was a little nervous about missing the flight, but Marlon assured me it would be fine.
So we spent a leisurely day in Cuzco and absolutely loved it. We had breakfast in the main square and there was a parade of school children while we were there. about 1000 of them all in various uniforms lined up for the event. Cuzco was the capital of the Inca Empire and still has a lot of Inca ruins, along with some impressive Spanish architecture. Some of the Spanish buildings used some of the Inca walls as part of the construction. That is quite rare from what I have seen as usually the conquering society wants to totally destroy the other one before setting up shop. We had lunch in a small suburb up a hill with a great view and we had drinks that night with the Belgian couple we had met in Puno. Eva went to go see the Sun Temple while I had a nap. I did get to see it later, in Belgium on stage as part of the set for the musical "Kuifje en de Zonnetemple" or Tintin and the Sun Temple.
The next morning we took off for the tour of the sacred valley. Our first stop was Pisac a small market town in a stunning setting and some amazing hill top ruins near by. Next we had lunch along the way and then on to Ollaytatambo where we were to catch the train that night. We first had a tour of the ruins and then most of the tour group headed back to Cuzco, while we waited a few hours for the train. It was a cute little city with little streams of water flowing through out the cobblestone streets.
The train took less than two hours and we were in Aguas Calientes and at our hotel by 10:30, so we could get to sleep for the early day the next day. We awoke before the sun to get in line for the bus up the hill. It is the most expensive bus ride in all of Peru as it takes under 30 minutes, and only goes 8 km and cost 6 USD. Some people walk it, but Eva and I were not keen on a 8 km uphill pre dawn hike, so we paid the money.
Our whole package included a 2 hour guided tour of the ruins, and then we were free to explore on our own. In total we spent 8 hours there it was that phenomenal. I had always loved the photos of my grandparents trip there in the 60's and had wanted to go for a long time. It did not disappoint me. Around the ruins there were wild llamas and we were able to find some spots where there were no other people in site during the day.
In the late afternoon we were on our way to the hot springs, back in town and Eva tripped, cutting her foot open. I didn't think it was a good idea for her to soak in questionable south American hot pool water, so she just waited for me while I did. That night I had the Guinea pig dinner I already mentioned and we went to bed early again, for another early departure.
In the morning we caught the train back to Ollaytatambo, a cab (shared with a couple from French Guiana) the hour and a half back to Cuzco, and an airplane to Lima. At the airport in Cuzco we thought it was funny because when we pulled up there were two llamas just wandering around the taxi stand. Maybe they were waiting for a cab. We had a bit of time to kill so we went across the street from the airport and I had some soup with questionable body parts of a questionable animal.
Back in Lima we stayed at the same place we had in the beginning (Safe in Lima) for one night before our flight home. But our flight wasn't until 11 at night so we had a whole day in Lima.
During that day we walked to the suburb of Miraflores and took a cab back and forth from the city center. We had heard that there was a building that was a replica of one in Brussles and wanted to see it. It took some searching, but eventually we found it. then it was back to the guesthouse to collect our bags and to the airport to fly to LA. Eva and I had different flights, but they left only a half hour apart. So that was it, our/my south America journey was over.
7 continents, check.
No comments:
Post a Comment