Arequipa Plaza plus the Coca Valley, 3 hours from Arequipa, and Marilyn with falcon and yours truly on a mountain ridge!!
Sunday, 30 January 2011
Photos of Lake Titicaca.
Here are 4 snaps of Lake Titicaca, mainly showing the floating islands constructed with reeds at Puno. Even the boats are made of reeds and float!!?!!
Arrived in Chile 28 January 2011
Hello again, followers whoever you may be!? Since my last postings on 24 Jan, we have progressed from Puno, Lake Titicaca, to Arica in Chile. We took a bus from Puno on the 25th and stayed in Arequipa for 3 nights before proceeding across the Peruvian border on the night of the 28th, straight to Arica via. Tacna. We had planned to remain longer in Arequipa which is a beautiful city and the second largest in Peru behind Lima, of course. However, the rains forced us away 24 hours earlier than planned, and since arriving in Chile where we are at sea level again, the weather is warmer and drier! Arica is quite a pleasant place on the coast and tomorrow we will set off again heading south to Iqique on the coast, some 5 hours by bus. We were going to stay in Tacna for a night but as the boder crossing to Arica was only 2 hours by taxi, including immigration and customs formalities, we decided to keep going and arrived at our hostel at 11 p.m., having arrived by bus at Tacna at 7 p.m. We did an all day tour at Arequipa on the 27th to the Colca Canyon and El Condor passage, 3 hours from the city so we had a really early start at 2.30 a.m. but once again the weather had the final say after lunch and we returned early having forfeited 3 stops en route from Colca to Arequipa due to the rain!! However, we did see the canyon, 2nd deepest in the world, and one condor, before the weather closed in. Will put a few photos on of Lake Titicaca and Arequipa later. All in all, we really enjoyed Peru but because so many places we stopped at were at altitude, we had to withstand alot of rain and a constant battle to keep our clothes dry!
We are hoping the next 3 weeks in Chile will become increasingly warmer and void of rain! We are both well though, and continuing to really enjoy our adventure. Bye for now. J.
We are hoping the next 3 weeks in Chile will become increasingly warmer and void of rain! We are both well though, and continuing to really enjoy our adventure. Bye for now. J.
Monday, 24 January 2011
Machu Picchu at last!! (Can only publish 5 photos at a time!
Here are the last two images of Machu Picchu - again, sorry about the duplicate - but, hey, what a fantastic place and we weren't disappointed. The sheer magnificent condition of the Inca ruins is a sight to behold. We had to leave slightly early as there was a torrential downpour in mid-afternoon and we all rushed for shelter at the entrance area. I have so many photos, as I've said, and when I get home, I'll put together an album on facebook, condensing our 8 week adventure in South America. We are in Puno today at Lake Titicaca and tomorrow head off by bus to Arequipa for 4 days - southern Peru - and another beautiful area with mountains, volcanoes, and deep canyons all around. Plus, we hope to see the condor there. We cross over into Chile on the 30th January. Back soon to update, followers. We are both well, a little travel weary, but having a great time. J.
Further photos of Macchu Picchu.
Hi again. I have messed up these photos completely!! Must be the 13,000 feet altitude at Lake Titicara!! Anyway, 2 of Marilyn and I on the train to Machu Picchu, same ruins again in Cozco, and a native Indian with local costume at a stopover point, plus a valley shot as we approached MP. I have 2 more to post so bear with me!! J.Photos in Lima and Cuzco / Machu Picchu.
The first 3 photos in reverse are taken in Lima City Centre where we took a walk on Sunday, 16th Jan. Then we arrived in Cuzco on the 17th and I took the 2 photos of the square at Cuzco and some nearby ruins when we had a city and outskirts tour. I have so many photos and will just abridge the ones for today. I shall follow on this entry with some more including the magnificent Machu Picchu temples.
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
Some mountain scenes in Huaraz and arrival Lima
Again my photos have come out in reverse order and the computer will not let me edit and move them around! Sorry!! Anyway, the first 2 photos are of Marilyn , one outside our first hostel in Lima on the 12th Jan, and the other, reading in the park at Miraflores, Lima. (Note the Paddington Bear hat!!) Preceding that , a photo taken from the coach en route to Lima from Huaraz, showing the spectacular mountains, and lastly 2 snaps taken in Huaraz of the Andes mountains around us. These peaks are all around 6,000 metres plus above sea level, and Huaraz itself is 3000 metres up! The same applies to Cuzco where we are now. We seem to have been okay with the altitude and have learned not to rush anywhere otherwise one gets a little breathless. I am learning to slow down!!??? J.
Some photos in Peru
Here are a few photos taken earlier in our travels. They are out of sequence, I'm afraid but the first one shows the market in Huaraz followed by some "ruin shots "in Trujillo, the Christmas atmosphere square in Trujillo, and lastly the Cathedral in the plaza square in Chiclayo.
I will do some more now under a separate posting showing the Andes mountains at Huaraz,and arrival Lima.
Arrived in Cuzco.
Hello again. Yesterday we arrived safely in Cuzco after an excellent flight from Lima over just over one hour. We arrived to the welcoming sight of glorious sunshine. We had expected cold and wet weather as this is the rainy season in Cuzco but, fingers crossed, we can expect decent weather when we set off on our 4 day tour to see the ruins, temples, Machu Picchu, and the Sacred Valley. The approach from the air to the airport was mind-blowing with snow covered mountains, and green valleys all around us.
We had a really enjoyable stay in Lima and did plenty of sight-seeing, shopping for essentials, and generally hanging out and soaking up the ambience. We even had a nice beach day to top up our tans but it wasn't a very comfortable beach with large pebbles and a raging sea, great for the surfers though!! We split our stay between 2 hostels, both were comfortable and we met some nice fellow back-packers, etc. We also befriended a really lovely German lady, Claudia, who is staying in Lima for 3 months and working on a musical project that includes local cultures etc. She hopes to premier the musical in Germany next year, so we will be watching this space!!?
Lima is a vast city and we only touched on a small area of the main centre but that included a recommended walk around all the cultural buildings and squares, etc. We did that on Sunday - most impressive. Such fabulous architecture and history.
We are staying in a comfortable hostel here and will enjoy a couple of days sight-seeing locally before shifting to another nearby hotel on the 20th where we will remain until we leave on the 23rd . It's included in the tour package and looks quite pleasant. From here we will head to Lake Titicaca and spend a few days there before heading for Arequipa and then across the border in to Chile for about 1st/2nd Feb.
I'm going to finish this posting by including a few photos of our travels through Peru to date. I hope it works okay!! If not, I will post them separately!I will report back next week after our Machu Picchu experience, etc.
We had a really enjoyable stay in Lima and did plenty of sight-seeing, shopping for essentials, and generally hanging out and soaking up the ambience. We even had a nice beach day to top up our tans but it wasn't a very comfortable beach with large pebbles and a raging sea, great for the surfers though!! We split our stay between 2 hostels, both were comfortable and we met some nice fellow back-packers, etc. We also befriended a really lovely German lady, Claudia, who is staying in Lima for 3 months and working on a musical project that includes local cultures etc. She hopes to premier the musical in Germany next year, so we will be watching this space!!?
Lima is a vast city and we only touched on a small area of the main centre but that included a recommended walk around all the cultural buildings and squares, etc. We did that on Sunday - most impressive. Such fabulous architecture and history.
We are staying in a comfortable hostel here and will enjoy a couple of days sight-seeing locally before shifting to another nearby hotel on the 20th where we will remain until we leave on the 23rd . It's included in the tour package and looks quite pleasant. From here we will head to Lake Titicaca and spend a few days there before heading for Arequipa and then across the border in to Chile for about 1st/2nd Feb.
I'm going to finish this posting by including a few photos of our travels through Peru to date. I hope it works okay!! If not, I will post them separately!I will report back next week after our Machu Picchu experience, etc.
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Arrived in Lima p.m. 10 January 2011
Since crossing the border from Ecuador to Peru on 2nd January, we have progressed to Lima, the capital of Peru where we arrived on Monday night after a 9 hour coach journey from Huaraz in the Peruvian Andes. We stayed in Chiclayo for 2 nights and enjoyed wandering around this pleasant town on the coast, the highlight being the "Mercado Modelo", a huge market with everything under the sun from herbal cures to clothes, all kinds of food, etc. Really noisy and chaotic and reminiscent of the souks in Calcutta on a hot and dusty day!! Constant honking of car horns to add to the atmosphere. All in all it was fun though.
We took another bus on the 4th and headed south, arriving at Trujillo 4 hours later. We spent a further 2 days there and the highlight was the all day tour we joined to visit the Chimu temple ruins at Huacas Sol and Luna plus the Chan Chan ruins. Excavated history that goes back to the 8th century, pre-Inca invasion days. Fascinating. What really impressed us was the beautiful and multi-colured walls that had been uncovered and so well preserved. A great day out. The following day we visited the Zoological Museum but were rather disappointed as it had not been well-maintained, but there were some interesting birds, mammals, etc to be seen.
On the 6th we headed off overnight from Trujillo to Huaraz -(10 hour comfortable coach trip with sleeper chairs) - and arrived at 7 a.m. on the 7th. Checked into a hostel for 3 nights and really enjoyed hanging out in this beautiful place which is in the heart of the Andes and surrounded by snow-capped peaks of 6,000 metres plus above sea level. The town is over 3,000 metres up and very rustic and interesting. We did alot of sight-seeing locally and really enjoyed our 3 days there. We really have got engrossed in the history of the Incas and visited another archeological museum in Huaraz to find out more about the local tribes, etc, and we read up in depth the Inca facts and figures in the California Cafe where we went for our morning breakfasts. Fellow backpackers hang out there and the cafe has a good selection of reference books aswell as book exchange. The local indigenous people in Huaraz were also very interesting to watch, particularly at the markets.
The weather wasn`t too bad in Huaraz and on the 3rd day the low cloud lifted and we were able to get a cracking view of the mountain peaks around us and we walked up a nearby hill to get a good vantage point for photos. I`ll put some on the blog later this week.
On Monday, 10th we left Huaraz and after another 9 hour coach trip, arrived here in Lima late in the evening. We have found a beautiful old colonial style , late 1950's, building which is now a hostel. "Home Peru" and we have 3 nights here, tonight being the last, and then move on to another hostel 2 kms down the road for 4 nights, and nearer the beach. Lima is a huge city and there is so much to do and see, thus we have decided to remain here until Monday, 17th, when we fly to Cuzco and join a 4 day tour on the 2oth/23rd to see Machu Picchu, and other Inca ruins, plus the Sacred Valley. It is about one hour's flight as opposed to a long and winding road coach journey that would take 3 days with stopovers. Today was a slightly wasted day from a sight-seeing point of view, as we had to seek out the Qantas and Iberia offices nearby to re-confirm our flights from Santiago next month, me to UK of course, and Marilyn to Auckland, NZ. Usual long queues at the offices but we managed to secure confirmations and after a late lunch, arrived back here in the mid-afternoon. Spent the rest of the afternoon chilling out in the garden with our books.
Anyway, that`s the update, folks, and I will be back next week to report on Machu Picchu, etc. That will undoubtedly be the highlight of our 8 week S/American tour if all you hear is to be believed! We are also looking forward to Lake Titicaca and the Atacama Desert in Chile. Time for bed now, said Zebberdee!! Bye, followers all. J
We took another bus on the 4th and headed south, arriving at Trujillo 4 hours later. We spent a further 2 days there and the highlight was the all day tour we joined to visit the Chimu temple ruins at Huacas Sol and Luna plus the Chan Chan ruins. Excavated history that goes back to the 8th century, pre-Inca invasion days. Fascinating. What really impressed us was the beautiful and multi-colured walls that had been uncovered and so well preserved. A great day out. The following day we visited the Zoological Museum but were rather disappointed as it had not been well-maintained, but there were some interesting birds, mammals, etc to be seen.
On the 6th we headed off overnight from Trujillo to Huaraz -(10 hour comfortable coach trip with sleeper chairs) - and arrived at 7 a.m. on the 7th. Checked into a hostel for 3 nights and really enjoyed hanging out in this beautiful place which is in the heart of the Andes and surrounded by snow-capped peaks of 6,000 metres plus above sea level. The town is over 3,000 metres up and very rustic and interesting. We did alot of sight-seeing locally and really enjoyed our 3 days there. We really have got engrossed in the history of the Incas and visited another archeological museum in Huaraz to find out more about the local tribes, etc, and we read up in depth the Inca facts and figures in the California Cafe where we went for our morning breakfasts. Fellow backpackers hang out there and the cafe has a good selection of reference books aswell as book exchange. The local indigenous people in Huaraz were also very interesting to watch, particularly at the markets.
The weather wasn`t too bad in Huaraz and on the 3rd day the low cloud lifted and we were able to get a cracking view of the mountain peaks around us and we walked up a nearby hill to get a good vantage point for photos. I`ll put some on the blog later this week.
On Monday, 10th we left Huaraz and after another 9 hour coach trip, arrived here in Lima late in the evening. We have found a beautiful old colonial style , late 1950's, building which is now a hostel. "Home Peru" and we have 3 nights here, tonight being the last, and then move on to another hostel 2 kms down the road for 4 nights, and nearer the beach. Lima is a huge city and there is so much to do and see, thus we have decided to remain here until Monday, 17th, when we fly to Cuzco and join a 4 day tour on the 2oth/23rd to see Machu Picchu, and other Inca ruins, plus the Sacred Valley. It is about one hour's flight as opposed to a long and winding road coach journey that would take 3 days with stopovers. Today was a slightly wasted day from a sight-seeing point of view, as we had to seek out the Qantas and Iberia offices nearby to re-confirm our flights from Santiago next month, me to UK of course, and Marilyn to Auckland, NZ. Usual long queues at the offices but we managed to secure confirmations and after a late lunch, arrived back here in the mid-afternoon. Spent the rest of the afternoon chilling out in the garden with our books.
Anyway, that`s the update, folks, and I will be back next week to report on Machu Picchu, etc. That will undoubtedly be the highlight of our 8 week S/American tour if all you hear is to be believed! We are also looking forward to Lake Titicaca and the Atacama Desert in Chile. Time for bed now, said Zebberdee!! Bye, followers all. J
Sunday, 9 January 2011
As promised, a few photos taken in Ecuador
Here are 5 photos taken in Quito, Baños, and Cuenca as we travelled south to the Peruvian border at Macara. Yours truly in Cuenca by the river, Marilyn in Baños with the mountains behind her, Basillica at Quitos "Old Town" with the Archangel overlooking the Old Town behind.
Lastly a snap of the surrounding mountains at Baños. We are now in Huaraz in the Peruvian Andes and arrive in Lima tomorrow for a few days before heading off to the zenith of our S/American trip, viz. Cuzno and Machu Picchu. Watch the blog! Bye for now.
Monday, 3 January 2011
Arrived in Peru, 2 January
Hello again everyone and a very happy New Year to you all. Today we are in Chiclayo, Peru and catching up on our emails, facebook, and blogs! Since my last posting in Quito, we have progressed through Ecuador via. Baños, Cuenca, and Loja, to this place in the Peruvian coast. We crossed the border into Peru at 5 a.m. yesterday , Macara being the border post. We took an overnight bus from Loja at midnight on the 1st which took 8 hours. We arrived at Priura and then changed buses for Chiclayo, another 3 hours further on!
We loved Ecuador although we did encounter alot of rain, but this did not spoil our enjoyment. Us backpackers are well equipped to deal with all types of weather!!!? Quito was great and 5 days there seemed long enough to enjoy lots of wonderful sight-seeing, etc in and around the city. The old town was particularly interesting with magnificent architecture, cathedrals, etc. We spent a quiet Christmas together in our hostal but had an enjoyable Christmas Eve with fellow travellers at a nearby pub. We joined the South American Explorers Tourist Club on the 23rd Dec and they invited us to the bash. We are supposed to get good discounts at hostals, restaurants, etc throughout S.America but haven't had too much success yet!! We tend to follow the Lonely Planet guide for accomodation,etc, but I believe we will do better in Peru and Chile.
From Quito we ventured to Baños, 3 hours south by bus, and stayed there for 3 days. Fabulous place surrounded by the Andes mountains and volcanoes. Highlight was seeing the active volcano, Tungurahua - 5016m - and enjoying the local hot volcanic spring waters. Managed to wash off alot of our suntans, though as we stayed in the waters for a long time!!!? It was well worth it though!
From Baños we went to Cuenca, 3rd largest city in Ecuador, and stayed a further 2 days. Quite an impressive place and we stayed in a hostal overlooking the main cathedral and old monastry gardens. We were on the 6th floor and had a great view. Very clean and enjoyable place to hang out in. We then moved on to Loja on the 31st Dec and spent one night there before moving on to Peru as mentioned above. Quiet New Year and nothing particularly remarkable about the place and we solely used the stopover for the bus arrangements across the border.
We are in much warmer weather now as we have decended from about 3000 metres above sea level to ground level now as we progressed southwards but I have to say we saw some wonderful scenery on our bus trips and were well impressed with Ecuador. The indigenous people were fascinating.
We leave here tomorrow and head down towards Lima via. Trujillo and Huaraz, and expect to arrive in the capital city on 11th Jan. Will update from there plus I will try and put a few photos on in the meantime. Off to lunch now! Bi for now, everyone of you. J.
We loved Ecuador although we did encounter alot of rain, but this did not spoil our enjoyment. Us backpackers are well equipped to deal with all types of weather!!!? Quito was great and 5 days there seemed long enough to enjoy lots of wonderful sight-seeing, etc in and around the city. The old town was particularly interesting with magnificent architecture, cathedrals, etc. We spent a quiet Christmas together in our hostal but had an enjoyable Christmas Eve with fellow travellers at a nearby pub. We joined the South American Explorers Tourist Club on the 23rd Dec and they invited us to the bash. We are supposed to get good discounts at hostals, restaurants, etc throughout S.America but haven't had too much success yet!! We tend to follow the Lonely Planet guide for accomodation,etc, but I believe we will do better in Peru and Chile.
From Quito we ventured to Baños, 3 hours south by bus, and stayed there for 3 days. Fabulous place surrounded by the Andes mountains and volcanoes. Highlight was seeing the active volcano, Tungurahua - 5016m - and enjoying the local hot volcanic spring waters. Managed to wash off alot of our suntans, though as we stayed in the waters for a long time!!!? It was well worth it though!
From Baños we went to Cuenca, 3rd largest city in Ecuador, and stayed a further 2 days. Quite an impressive place and we stayed in a hostal overlooking the main cathedral and old monastry gardens. We were on the 6th floor and had a great view. Very clean and enjoyable place to hang out in. We then moved on to Loja on the 31st Dec and spent one night there before moving on to Peru as mentioned above. Quiet New Year and nothing particularly remarkable about the place and we solely used the stopover for the bus arrangements across the border.
We are in much warmer weather now as we have decended from about 3000 metres above sea level to ground level now as we progressed southwards but I have to say we saw some wonderful scenery on our bus trips and were well impressed with Ecuador. The indigenous people were fascinating.
We leave here tomorrow and head down towards Lima via. Trujillo and Huaraz, and expect to arrive in the capital city on 11th Jan. Will update from there plus I will try and put a few photos on in the meantime. Off to lunch now! Bi for now, everyone of you. J.
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