TravelStream™ news feed for member bnp.peru on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/bnp.peru en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:07:07 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnp.peru/1/1222084860/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnp.peru/1/1222084860/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnp.peru/1/1222084860/tpod.html Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:07:07 -0400 Absolute Peru

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Cuzco, Peru

Just back from the Inca Trail yesterday. It was both a lot of fun and a trying ordeal; not quite like camping back home. The ruins that we encountered along the way as well as Machu Picchu were amazing. It's incredible to think that this trail was built hundreds of years ago, especially when you see some of the places it goes up the sides of mountains and across ridges of mountains... the views were incredible. We have lots of pictures!

Anyway, we have a somewhat relaxing free day in Cuzco today where we plan to do some shopping and see some more of the sights. We took the Sacred Valley tour before we left for the trek and so we have seen lots and lots of Incan ruins. We'll probably see a couple more today too!

Next we're off to the Amazon for a couple days. We'll fly into Puerto Maldonado and then take a boat up the amazon to where we are staying. We've been warned of spiders, snakes, and mosquitos but I think it will still be amazing... never been to the jungle before.

Then it's back to Lima for a day and we fly home on Friday. Hope everyone is doing well and we'll see you all soon!!!


Peter & Beau
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnp.peru/1/1221502200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnp.peru/1/1221502200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnp.peru/1/1221502200/tpod.html Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:19:10 -0400 Absolute Peru

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Puno, Peru

This will just be a quick update on some of the things that we've done since Nasca. We've been so busy there's barely time to sleep. And internet is always available.

We did dune buggies in a real proper desert which was amazing. We stayed a day in the White City, Arequipa, called that because of the volcanic rock they use to build everything is white. We spent 2 nights in the Colca Valley visiting the valley and the Colca canyon, one of the worlds deepest canyons. At 9000 ft deep, it's more than twice as deep as the grand canyon. There we saw deformed skulls that are elongated and giant condors that use the heated walls of the canyon to launch themselves into the sky. We also took an 18km bike ride out of the canyon at around 12000 ft. To and from the canyon we visited the highest point of the trip at around 16500 ft. From there we travelled to Puno where we just got back from a visit to many of the islands of Lake Titicaca. We stayed in a traditional home on Amantane island with a family there and played soccer at about 12,500 ft. Everything here is so high, it's amazing.

Anyway, need to jet. We're going to go shower and see if we can catch the bus to see some tombs north of Puno. We're off to Cusco tomorrow and we start the Inca Trail for 4 days on Thursday. Hopefully I'll have some time to update this in more detail before then. If not, we'll climb into Machu Picchu on Sunday and be back that evening.

We hope everyone is well, take care.
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Puno, Peru

were still around but no time to write, more later
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Lima, Peru

So we got to Lima last night and didn't do much but get to the hotel. It was 00:30 local time and we were still hungry so we ran around to the market and grabbed some snacks. We woke up somewhat late after not actually getting to bed until after 2 and started our day. We selected a few places to go see, including the Monestery de San Francisco with it's ancient Catacombas, the the house of the president, an interesting restuarnt where the food is prepared and served by nuns (L´eau Vive) and the house of the arch bishop. It was a great day though we didn't quite make it to the bishop's house because of improper directions. :-)

All in all, it is quite a culture shock coming here. The poverty is striking and omnipresent. However, there are a lot of hard working people and growing industry. The driving is insane and I don't think you could pay me to drive in Lima. No one seems to obey any traffic laws that I can perceive. Everyone honks at each other just as a matter of course. There is a pedestrian walk way going from the Plaza Mayor down to the the Plaza San Martin in Lima Central that we were walking along that had a sign at an intersecting street that said no honking. As we walked by, 3 taxis were sitting in traffic honking at each other. I would have loved a picture but I'd need video and a good mic to capture the moment.

Peru suffered a devestating earthquake in August of 2007 and we see signs of rebuilding everyone. Our tour guide says that the top stories of buildings often collapsed and so everywhere there are people trying to rebuild the tops of theirs houses and shops.

I had forgotten how much leaded gas which they still use here gives me a headache. The fumes gave me a great one so I spent the afternoon lying in bed trying to recover. It was quite awful actually. But some meds and a little rest later and I was all right.

This was our first day here and our last day on our own for 3 weeks. Our last day when we fly back through Lima will be on our own as well. We finished off the day with an enchanted evening out for dinner at Huaca Pucllana. Huaca apparently means pyramid, or ruin or some such. There are several Pre-Columbian civilization pyramids that have been unearthed right here in Lima. They stretch a few hundred feet tall and I think are fascinating. At Huaca Pucllana there is a fantastic restaurant with the lighted Huaca as a backdrop to small fires for heat and candelit tables. The food was incredible and though I was still banishing the last vestiges of a headache so that I could not imbibe it was the perfect end to the first day that really started off our trip!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnp.peru/1/1220962080/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnp.peru/1/1220962080/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnp.peru/1/1220962080/tpod.html Tue, 09 Sep 2008 08:12:21 -0400 Absolute Peru

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Nasca, Peru

Just to let everyone know, I went in and back filled several blog entries from some notes that I´ve been taking. The hotel here has wifi which is how I got on with my iphone last night but there are computers as well though the queues seem to always be long. I got up before anyone else this morning and was able to snag one.

I´ll try to keep doing this so you can read the blog sequentially, just try to keep track of which entries you´ve read or be sure to go back and look at some of the previous ones.

We´re flying over the Nasca lines today, it should be exciting. If anyone wants to Google Earth them and share a link that would be great. You can see them from the satellites.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnp.peru/1/1220845920/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnp.peru/1/1220845920/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnp.peru/1/1220845920/tpod.html Tue, 09 Sep 2008 08:08:44 -0400 Absolute Peru

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Pisco, Peru

We got up early to meet all of our travel compatriots on the tour. We all met at the hotel and our new travel guide introduced himself and discussed our itinerary. I´ve had a couple days to try to learn them, though I don´t yet know everyone´s name by heart. There are 2 gentleman from Belgium, though they are not traveling together name Nicu and Freddy. They seem nice enough though I think the language barrier might be preventing some interaction because they often seem to be on the outskirts of the group.Next are 2 sisters from the UK. I think they´re both in college or perhaps one of them just graduated. I haven´t yet learned their names but I do know that they both start with the same letter. Ah well, soon enough. They are very cheery, both blond, and they have just finished visiting the Galapagos before traveling to Peru. Next is a pregnant woman traveling alone from UK. She left her boyfriend there to watch the dog while she got in one last trip before the baby comes. She won´t be coming with us on the Inca Trail or to the Amazon but she has a quirky sense of humor and she´s great fun. I adore the accent of course. There are a couple of Germans, a son with his mother (don´t get any ideas, ma :-D). He has actually lived here for the last 6 months but his mother came to visit and they decided to take this trip together. There is a couple from Montreal who are married and apparently looking for kids too. A couple of woman from New Zealand who are older but like to drink and have lots of fun and to round it off a married couple from UK who are here to celebrate their 50th birthdays together.

We travel today to a small village outside of Pisco. We are traveling by bus but first we have a bus that will take us down to the bus depot. We all collect our bags and board the bus on our great adventure. The tour guide warns us to be particularly careful at bus stations so we all end up with our bags piled up huddled against a wall. The guide gets our tickets and we all get these amazing little chorizos (deep fried things with gooey caramel in the middle and topped with sugar and perhaps some cinnamon).

The bus is rather boring, and we sit and try to sleep or watch bad movies in spanish with english subtitles. I watched out the window as I saw the shanty towns pass by, seeing what was wrought by the devestation of the earthquake. Many buildings are still under construction, roofs built with whatever material might keep out the cold and the rain for a while. The sadness is pervasive but I like to think there is still hope in these peoples eyes. Beau and I talked about taking time on our next trip to volunteer wherever we visit. There is just so much need and there must be more we can do than come and look at them and take pictures.

The small town outside of Pisco is not much to look at, but the hotel is quite nice. Beau and I have separate twin beds again... we´re still coming to terms with how best to interact with this culture and their stereotypes. On top of the hotel is a nice cabana like lounge area where we can drink and will take breakfast in the morning. It overlooks the Pacific and the Paracas National reserve. We walked along the beach, and though it was stinky it was interesting to see the different people manning their shops for the few tourists that were there or the fisherman bringing in their boats. We walked back along the road however to avoid the aroma.

We all ate together as a group for the first time and it was interesting. It was a restaurant along side the beach but it was not really anything to write home about. Beau and I were the most tired of the group I think and when we got back to the hotel we immediately went to bed. Apparently there was loud music from someone until the wee hours but I didn´t notice and I don´t think Beau did either.
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Nasca, Peru

So we're safe and sound. We've been having a blast sans our headaches but more about that later. Right now I'm still on the iPhone so I'm not going to type a lot. Hope everyone is great and well right all about everything when I get to a proper keyboard though I have no idea when that will be.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnp.peru/1/1220644980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnp.peru/1/1220644980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnp.peru/1/1220644980/tpod.html Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:11:59 -0400 Absolute Peru

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Atlanta, Georgia, United States

so were here in atlanta and were struck by the heat and humidity as soon as we stepped off the plane. And we also ran onto some of the local color with the deep southern drawls, nice tans, and popeyes for lunch. Were looking forward to getting there though it looks like were getting to the hotel after midnight local time. Well probably find Internet pretty easily in Lima and well be there till Sunday afternoon. After that who knows. I'll see if I can't figure out how to upload pics too.

Peter
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Seattle, Washington, United States

so were sitting here bleary eyed and waiting to get started. Really though I'm just using the opportunity to try this with the iPhone. Ill try this again from hotlanta maybe. So much fun.
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Seattle, Washington, United States

So we are finally packed... almost. Just a few last minute things to throw in at 5:00 when we wake up tomorrow. Our plane takes off at 7:55 and we're going to be at the airport at 4:30 if Beau has anything to say about it. :-) My backpack and Beau's are 23 lbs and 21lbs respectively, not counting the day packs. We didn't quite fit in the kitchen sink but it feels like we did.

We're flying through Atlanta, where we have a short layover, and then its off to Lima. We'll be there tomorrow evening pretty late, local time. From there it's a cab ride to Miraflores and our first night in South America to start us out on our adventure.

Hopefully we'll be able to update this often but we'll just have to see what we find down there. We're both excited to go and can't wait to be there!
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