Reeds we encountered while hiking on the Inca trail on our way to Machu Pichu, Peru.
Showing posts with label Peru. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peru. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Monday, March 31, 2014
Friends - Has & Steff
mouseyingaround.blogspot.com
In Peru we met Has & Steff a couple from Wales, not England - Wales! ;) And for everyone who doesn't know were that is: Wales.
In the month we travelled together we survived the Inka Jungle Trail, met funny, unique and weird people, got drunk and suffered the day after, seen breathtaking nature in Bolivia, met Fernando (4 year old) a super cute boy with the biggest cheeks I've ever seen, and shared a lot of great memories!
At Santiago they took the plane to New Zealand, heading forward to Australia and Indonesia.
Thank you Has & Steff for this great time.
In Peru we met Has & Steff a couple from Wales, not England - Wales! ;) And for everyone who doesn't know were that is: Wales.
In the month we travelled together we survived the Inka Jungle Trail, met funny, unique and weird people, got drunk and suffered the day after, seen breathtaking nature in Bolivia, met Fernando (4 year old) a super cute boy with the biggest cheeks I've ever seen, and shared a lot of great memories!
At Santiago they took the plane to New Zealand, heading forward to Australia and Indonesia.
Thank you Has & Steff for this great time.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Lake Titicaca (04.02.2014 - 08.02.2014)
To give our tired bodies some rest we stayed two nights in Cusco. We visited the San Pedro market, wandered around the city and tried to find some cheap cuy (guinea pig, but sadly all where overpriced).
We planned only to stay two nights and then continue our way to Bolivia, but alas there was a strike on the way to the border and the road blocked for all traffic. So we prolonged our stay in the not so beautiful Puno and hopped on a bus on the next day.
Because the railroad to lake Titicaca was totally overpriced we decided to take the cheaper tourist bus. Not such a good idea in hindsight, it was still expensive and the location where it stopped weren't really interesting... Puno itself isn't really worth seeing, the main attraction is lake Titicaca, the highest lake in the world and largest in south america. On it are several islands which attract its share of tourists, furthermost the floating islands.
We stayed in the same hostel as Has & Steffan and the other day Janis & Max showed up as well, so ¾ of our Machu Pichu group where together again.
We stayed in the same hostel as Has & Steffan and the other day Janis & Max showed up as well, so ¾ of our Machu Pichu group where together again.
We visited the floating islands of Uros, where since pre-Incan times people lived on these artificial islands made out of bundled reeds. Back in the days they also built their houses and boats out of reeds. The reeds are laid upon a natural floating layer and have to be replaced almost ever two weeks. This makes walking around on this soft and squishy underground quite fun ;). The islands themselves last about 50 years, whereas they have to build a new one which takes about a year. Anchored to the ground and protected by bigger storms/waves by a huge sea (forest?) of reeds these islands are quite safe and rise and fall with the level of the lake.
On our last night the whole city was engulfed by a fierce and powerful hail storm. In minutes every surface was covered in white hail and the streets turned to huge gutters. The traffic and for a short while the electricity broke down and it was pure mayhem.
We planned only to stay two nights and then continue our way to Bolivia, but alas there was a strike on the way to the border and the road blocked for all traffic. So we prolonged our stay in the not so beautiful Puno and hopped on a bus on the next day.
San Pedro Market, Cusco
Tupac Amaru, Cusco
This market has everything from clothes, accessories, fruits, vegetables, meat, cheese, bread, delicious fruit juice, food stalls and much more. A perfect place to have lunch peruvian style and way cheaper then all the posh restaurants around the main plaza.
This market has everything from clothes, accessories, fruits, vegetables, meat, cheese, bread, delicious fruit juice, food stalls and much more. A perfect place to have lunch peruvian style and way cheaper then all the posh restaurants around the main plaza.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
L'atelier by Grid, Cusco
latelierbygrid.com
At l'atelier by Grid is a beautiful shop run by Grid herself, a likeable french Girl. She sell vintage cloths/ accessories and self made jewellery. I found my perfect Peru souvenir, a neckless with an old peruvian coin. Her atelier is part of the shop and she is always able to consider special requests.
At l'atelier by Grid is a beautiful shop run by Grid herself, a likeable french Girl. She sell vintage cloths/ accessories and self made jewellery. I found my perfect Peru souvenir, a neckless with an old peruvian coin. Her atelier is part of the shop and she is always able to consider special requests.
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| My souvenir from Peru |
La Boheme, Cusco
labohemecusco.com
If you ever head a good french crepe, you will definitely know the difference between a crepe and a real crepe. And who knows that better then the french? In Cusco you find a chance to get a real one in this little creperia run by a very friendly french guy. He offers sweet and salty ones, the filling is up to you. And don't miss to try one of the fresh, delicious teas!
If you ever head a good french crepe, you will definitely know the difference between a crepe and a real crepe. And who knows that better then the french? In Cusco you find a chance to get a real one in this little creperia run by a very friendly french guy. He offers sweet and salty ones, the filling is up to you. And don't miss to try one of the fresh, delicious teas!
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Machu Pichu (30.01.2014 - 03.02.2014)
To spice up our visit to Machup Pichu we decided to do the Inka Jungle Trail. A 4 day / 3 nights tour with biking, hiking, zip lining, Machu Pichu and a train ride. Converse are not the best shoes for such a trip, so after running around town to find some halfway decent hiking boots and a backpack to rent we where off.
The first day consisted of biking down from the Malaga pass (at 4350m) to Santa Marta (around 1900m) where we spent the first night. The rainy weather didn't make this all to pleasant and all of us where drenched to the bone. We could have gone river rafting in the afternoon but decided we've been wet enough for a day ;)
We got up early the next day and made our way up to the old and famous Inka Trail. The Inkas built these trails for fast delivery of news and orders. Each royal messenger was responsible for a certain stretch at which end he handed over his message to the next guy. This way a letter from Cusco could be delivered to Quito (1'644 km over air) in less than a week! Our guide Rene also showed us all kind of plants, drinks and animals. As reward we ended our 23km hike in some hot springs, nice!
We had a lot of fun with our group: two guys from Germany, two girls from Chile, a couple from Wales and the two of us. This evening we all got hammered with our guide handing out "Inka Tequila" shots ;)
The next morning most of us where hung over, not ideal to be hiking up a narrow and steep path for 30 minutes. But then the fun started and we where zip lining down the mountain! The second of the 5 lines is supposed to be the longest in the world, at 1200m length and 200m height! Also the end was quite fun, as the line just stopped in midair on a platform from which we rappelled down.
Afterwards we took a bus to our next destination from which we had to follow the train tracks all the way to Aguas Caliente/Machu Pueblo. This time we skipped on the partying and went to bed early.
To see Machu Pichu before the huge crowds arrive by bus we got up ad 4:30 in the morning and walked to the entrance of the national park. At 5 o'clock the gates opened and the climb started! An hour and much sweat later we arrived at the site. Our guide showed us around and explained the different ruins and terraces. Some of our group had purchased an extra ticket to climb the even higher Wayna Pichu or the Machu Pichu mountain. But after the last two days of hiking no body felt like it ;)
We took some nice pictures and left when the huge crowds started to arrive by bus.
To pass the time before our train would leave we went to the hot springs, sadly not as nice as the one before. The ride on the train was nice, following the river all the way to Ollantaytambo from which we took a mini bus back to Cusco.
The first day consisted of biking down from the Malaga pass (at 4350m) to Santa Marta (around 1900m) where we spent the first night. The rainy weather didn't make this all to pleasant and all of us where drenched to the bone. We could have gone river rafting in the afternoon but decided we've been wet enough for a day ;)
We got up early the next day and made our way up to the old and famous Inka Trail. The Inkas built these trails for fast delivery of news and orders. Each royal messenger was responsible for a certain stretch at which end he handed over his message to the next guy. This way a letter from Cusco could be delivered to Quito (1'644 km over air) in less than a week! Our guide Rene also showed us all kind of plants, drinks and animals. As reward we ended our 23km hike in some hot springs, nice!
We had a lot of fun with our group: two guys from Germany, two girls from Chile, a couple from Wales and the two of us. This evening we all got hammered with our guide handing out "Inka Tequila" shots ;)
The next morning most of us where hung over, not ideal to be hiking up a narrow and steep path for 30 minutes. But then the fun started and we where zip lining down the mountain! The second of the 5 lines is supposed to be the longest in the world, at 1200m length and 200m height! Also the end was quite fun, as the line just stopped in midair on a platform from which we rappelled down.
Afterwards we took a bus to our next destination from which we had to follow the train tracks all the way to Aguas Caliente/Machu Pueblo. This time we skipped on the partying and went to bed early.
To see Machu Pichu before the huge crowds arrive by bus we got up ad 4:30 in the morning and walked to the entrance of the national park. At 5 o'clock the gates opened and the climb started! An hour and much sweat later we arrived at the site. Our guide showed us around and explained the different ruins and terraces. Some of our group had purchased an extra ticket to climb the even higher Wayna Pichu or the Machu Pichu mountain. But after the last two days of hiking no body felt like it ;)
We took some nice pictures and left when the huge crowds started to arrive by bus.
To pass the time before our train would leave we went to the hot springs, sadly not as nice as the one before. The ride on the train was nice, following the river all the way to Ollantaytambo from which we took a mini bus back to Cusco.
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| Machu Pichu |
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
To Quito then to Lima and further to Cusco (25.01.2014 - 29.01.2014)
Our time in the Galapagos was at its end and we flew back to the mainland. We spent two nights in Quito and visited the city. There isn't much to see except the mandatory church/cathedral. Nice though is that certain streets are closed for traffic on sundays and you can see people bicycling everywhere.
The next day we boarded our plane to Peru, landing in Lima just two hours later. We spent the following day exploring the Mariscal area and did some (window) shopping. There where dozens of paragliders in the air, soaring on the steep cliffs facing the sea. Using the upwinds for their crazy tricks. Made me look forward to go flying again...
To get to Cusco we flew for one hour to avoid the 30+ hours bus ride. We landed safely in Cusco and immediately felt the high altitude. Cusco lies at 3400 meter above sea, walking up some steep steps with your backpack already left you out of breath!
The next day we boarded our plane to Peru, landing in Lima just two hours later. We spent the following day exploring the Mariscal area and did some (window) shopping. There where dozens of paragliders in the air, soaring on the steep cliffs facing the sea. Using the upwinds for their crazy tricks. Made me look forward to go flying again...
To get to Cusco we flew for one hour to avoid the 30+ hours bus ride. We landed safely in Cusco and immediately felt the high altitude. Cusco lies at 3400 meter above sea, walking up some steep steps with your backpack already left you out of breath!
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| Mighty condor |
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