The Cusco - Machu Picchu Express

22:07 mareku 0 Comments





The only way to Machu Picchu is by walking (Inca Trail - which takes at least 4 days) or by train, which has a route almost as spectacular as the trail - but takes "only" 3 1/2 hours.  Last year parts of the track was destroyed by the wild river next to it and Machu Picchu was isolated from the rest of the world for 66 days...
It is a truly scenic trip, especially with the special "Vista Dome" train, which has a sort of glass ceiling. No wonder this counts as one of the best train journeys of the world. We enjoyed every minute of it.

The day that everyone came to (Cusco) town

22:45 mareku 1 Comments


Inca washing machine

Alpaca lama (on the right)

Oxygen everywhere - but not necessary - even on 4000 meters altitude



Ancient Inca wall



Add caption



 
It is Christmas eve - the most important day of the year, so everyone comes to Cusco and the town has turned into one big bustling place. Of course there is a huge market, where you can do your last minute X-mas shopping and lots of jugglers, strongman, lama's and such.
Not a lot tourists are still here - which makes the place even more magical it seems and everyone is dressed up (Except two stupid guys from Amsterdam that is...) As everywhere  in Peru the people are very friendly, warm and helpful. Sure especially if you buy something ;-) But they are in no way pushy. There is respect both ways, and that's nice.

The colors of Peru

22:35 mareku 0 Comments













The famous Alpaca wool is dyed in all kinds of bright colors using natural ingredients like leafs, insects, corn or what you have. It is a very soft wool - much softer then sheep wool and even as cashmere when you compare the latter with "baby alpaca". Sure there is a even more expensive, even more softer sort wool: Vicuña. Made of the vicuñas which have only a tiny amount of wool,  which can only be shorn every 3 years... Its more expensive then gold (well with the rising gold prizes nowadays you never know :-) )

The Sacred Valley of the Incas

22:24 mareku 0 Comments







We did a tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, in the  high Andes along the river Vilcanotes which flows into the jungle to mix with the Amazon later on. Along it lay many Inca ancient (holy) cities  like Pisac and Ollantaytambo which perch very high on the mountains and from which you have a magnificent view of the valley. It where Inca strongholds, fortresses with temples and lots of agricultural terraces. The way the Incas build their temples is still astonishing - the way the stones fit like a puzzle is amazing. This is a preview of what we will see in Machu Picchu I hope.

Cuso - in the heart of the Andes - Inca country

22:15 mareku 0 Comments

coca tea












 A short flight from Lima took us to Cusco - in the heart of the Andes. We were prepared for the worst of altitude sickness, but things turned out fine. Sure the first hours we had to adjust - almost exhausted from a couple of stairs and dizzy when raising to fast. But after a while we got used to the lack of oxygen and our bodies adjusted. Coca leaf tea (which tastes like any other green tea) seems to help, zo we drank lots of it. As in Lima there are many, many, many (and even more) people and markets with artisan products for sale. Some just hideous, some more traditional. We couldn't refuse all offers, so bought some stuff. I really like the patterns and designs of the textile we see here.

Lima

22:03 mareku 0 Comments

traditional house with balconies

Looks like an early Keith Haring - Is from the Incas though...





(real?) Abercrombie, Nautica, what have you for $2

view from Larcomar
Larcomar on the cliffs of Lima
Lima is just as your usual busy South American metropolis. Millions of people looking for fortune in a mix of very poor and ancient and hyper rich and modern. We decided to stay in the modern / rich part of town: Miraflores when life is  very convenient and  luxurious. The old town has some interesting parts (mainly churches and museums) which are very worth while to visit. The killer feature of Lima is I think its location: between mountains and the Pacific. In Miraflores on a steep sloop a new development "Larcomar" is the place to be to do some shopping and to have a meal while watching the sunset. Is the the place where everyone in Lima comes and to enjoy the view it seems.
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)