Saturday, October 25, 2008

A few random thoughts

Oddest bathroom so far.
So of all he bad bathroom swithout toilet seats or utterly gross or just a hole in the ground, this next one is the strangest. We were at a restaurant in Chivay, Peru, for lunch. This restaurant had obviously been an afterthought and a roof added as there was a water spout that entered into the restaurant. SO as a solution, they had a plastic bag divert the waterspout into the mens washroom. Into the sink you may ask? Nope, onto the floor. So it was of course raining when I used this washroom. Imagine standing up, doing the normal business, but your feet are getting wet due to rain being funneled in.....odd experience, makes you second guess your aim a little bit.


Awesomest Dinner of the trip so far.
For 7 dollars (roughly)- Steak, Pork Chop, Chicken Breast, Sausage, Hot Dog, Fies, Salad, Drink.........I love South America.

Other random thoughts.

So many Beatles (the car) here, it is nutso.
Thought I got my bag stolen today after a quick bus switch that seemed really sketchy, luckily, all was legit and our bags made it.

Condors are large.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Machupicchu!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31366522@N08/

Wow another little while since my last post!
I checked out hte Nazca lines as promised in the last blog and quite enjoyed them. It was a little pricey to get in the plane, but I think it was definitely worth it.

On to Cuzco! Cuzco has been a beuatiful town although I have spent too much tim ehere now and am excited to move on to the next spot. The reason I spend so much time here first off was to acclimatize before doing the Salkantay trail to Macchupicchu, which reaches an altitude of 4800 meters. In those few days I checked out a few ruins around town, along with some old spanish churches. Very cool. The best named of all the ruins was Saqsaywaman, you say it...yup it is exactly what you think!. SO after a few days in Cuzco bumming around it was time to head off to Slakantay!

Woot. This was a 5 day trek and for a beginner trekker like me was great. Not easy by any means, but not too techinal either, and with our own cook and horeses to carry our gear, my life was made easier, I just had to walk. I will post pictures of the beautiful scenery on flickr later today, or tomorrow, I promise.
The toughest day of the trek was day 2 with 800 meters straight up to the hight point of the trek...in a snowstorm and then 1600 meters down to our campsite. Really quite touch but rewarding when it was all said and done. Did not really get cold in the snowstorm because e were working so hard but as soon as we sat down for lunch....wow were we cold and wet! But we made the most of of it by not drinking our coca tea, but merely holding it as long as possible to get warm.
The other days were tough but seemed easy in comparaison to day 2 so I will not bore you and simply post pictures later times. I loved every minute of the trek, even in the cold, me and my trekmates were able to find humour and have a good laugh. Speaking of my trekmates, we got a long super well and I hav eformed even more friendships to take with me through the rest of South America, I am running into people everywhere!

Once we arrived to Machupicchu on day 5, I was in awe. I loved it, it was more than I could have imagined. You see the pictures and read about it, but it is way different experienceing it yourself for sure. we also did the extra hike to waynapicchu.
so to leave off this kind of scattered post, so point form highlights of the trek.

-Meeting great people
- Awesome scenery
- Lots of altitude.
-PLaying Loup Garou with the group
-Our guide Nico
-Lots of laughing! some morning my stomach hurt more than my legs.
-Machupicchu
-Hot springs! woooot

Friday, October 10, 2008

Time for an Update. and pictures?

So Alot has happened since the last post. I am still in Peru, travelling along happily. I am writing from Nazca, where tomorrow I am hopping in a plane to check out the Nazca Lines.

First dump of pictures is http://www.flickr.com/photos/31366522@N08/page4/

I spent a few days in Lima and I did quite like it (more than expected) but I was culture shocked by the traffic and use of horns. It was unreal. 3 lane roads turned into 4 or 5 lanes, being cut off every turn, not even slowing down for stop signs, just honking to hope people stop. It was madness. To cross the street, you risk your life every time. Also, the cabs honk if they think you need a ride, being as non peruvian as you can get, I got honked at A LOT. It was funny for about an hour, then just annoying.

Other than that, I tried to be cultural by checking out a few museums, churches, catacombs, I will not bore you with the details, but it was interesting and informative.

Then came the adventure part of the current blog. I took off to Huacachina, where I proceeded to sandboard. This was basically snowboarding but on sand. I really quite enjoyed myself, but a damper was put on the event when a guy from Brazil broke his Femur.....bad news. Nonetheless, we were still able to go dune buggying afterwards and that was the best part. Like a rollercoaster ride on sand. So cool. The dunes stretched for miles, as far as you could see , very neat. And high, some were hundreds of feet high. Quite a sight to see.

Last but not least in this installment of Markdownsouth was a tour to Isla Ballestas. I quite enjoyed it. We got to see Dolphins, Sea lions, penguins, seals, and a whole lot of birds, that proceeded to poop on us of course. I thought it was worth it, except for the poop. I will wear a hat next time.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

The Last few days.

So the last Few days has been pretty awesome as all the days have been so far. No major complaints. So here are a few highlights. No pictures yet but in Lima that will be my goal, so check after teh weekend for photos. Those who have me or Eric Manraj on facebook can see some pics from the first few days of the trip.

1. Train from Riobamba to Alausi. So amazing, the scenery was incredible. We sat on top of the train and the train even derailed once. Good times. Went on it with a few Dutch whom I met in Riobamba,

2. South Americans know how to do markets. You can buy anything at the market from car parts to toiet paper. Like a grocery store, but over several blocks in the street and with bartering. You could also buy playstations at this market in Riobamba.

3. I am now in peru, in Mancora, soaking up the rays and swimming in the ocean, woooot. Taking a day or 2 to relax before an epic busride to Lima. Also gettin gused to the Soles here after having 3 weeks using the American Dollar, things seem expensive at 25 soles but thats less than 10 bucks so its cool.

4. 3 weeks already here......crazy! It has gone by ridiculously fast.