TravelStream™ news feed for member polakpete on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/polakpete en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:00:51 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/work/1250881119/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/work/1250881119/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/work/1250881119/tpod.html Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:00:51 -0400 Random Trips

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Montego Bay, Jamaica

d
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/work/1120753320/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/work/1120753320/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/work/1120753320/tpod.html Wed, 26 Nov 2008 06:44:18 -0500 Random Trips

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Puerto plata, Dominican Republic

I'm not sure if I can say I've really been to the Dominican Republic.  We flew in, hopped on an a bus at the airport and drove to the Bahia Principe resort in the middle of nowhere.  A week later, the same bus took us back to the airport for the flight home.  But the week in between was awesome.This was a big family vacation, with eight of us making it out there and all we did was relax on the beach, play volleyball, and party.  I had an amazing time and the resort was excellent.  Aside from a snorkling trip and a stopover at a local beach, my time here was spent entirely at the resort.  The weather was hot, really hot and I loved it.  This being July, it was constantly in the 30s and we might have hit 40 on a day or two.  The nights were incredibly humid but it was suprisingly pleasant, unlike stuffy Toronto summer nights. 
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1225727400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1225727400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1225727400/tpod.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:51:23 -0500 Trekking the Highlands (Bolivia & Peru)

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Time to plan the next trip...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1225617840/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1225617840/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1225617840/tpod.html Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:36:13 -0500 Trekking the Highlands (Bolivia & Peru)

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Lima, Peru

One of the big attractions in Miraflores is Larco Mar, which is a large mall in the side of the cliffs overlooking the ocean.  It is a popular spot for not only shopping and eating but also for clubbing in the evenings.  Around the mall along the cliffs are a number of parks and a large field that is the launching point for parasailing.We spent a good part of the day in the area.  The mall is very cool, but it's a mall, not exactly a reason for visiting Peru.  The surrounding parks are very scenic and many people were taking in the tranquility on this Saturday.  Unfortunately, the weather did not play nice and we were unable to parasail.One of the days adventures was a tremor that shook Lima.  We were in the mall at the time and since it's built in the side of a cliff, everyone inside was pretty freaked out.  Most locals and store owners run up to the top to get outside and away from the mall.  Fortunately it was just a tremor.In the evening we hit up Barranco.  This part of town has a main bar street full of nightspots frequented by both locals and tourists.  Good times.  Now it's time to catch a cab to the airport and officially finish the trip.  Can't say I'm looking forward to that...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1224600060/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1224600060/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1224600060/tpod.html Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:42:04 -0500 Trekking the Highlands (Bolivia & Peru)

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

La Paz, Bolivia

After a couple of days I think I´m finally adjusted to the altitude, which is a good thing as we´re heading to Copacabana today which at 3800m is slightly higher than La Paz.  Sunday was a lazy day as the altitude really took its toll.  Bummed around the city some more and ended up catching the La Paz - Santa Cruz soccer game at the Olympic stadium, not the greatest level of play, but it was still fun.  Ended up crashing early in order to get ready for the Worlds Most Dangerous Road.This bike trip is something I wanted to do for a long time so I was really pumped.  Just a few words of advice here, although tons of agencies run this trip, fairly cheap, only a couple do it right.  You really need good gear and guides to get through this as it is a pretty dangerous ride.We went with an outfit called B-Side.  Their guides were really knowledgeable and fun and the bikes were high end.  They´re not quite as expensive as the two agencies found in the travel guides, so its worth it.  Several guides here have worked at both of the big agencies before.The trip is a 63kms trek that starts in Cumbrio at 4800m and ends up in Corroico at 1100m.  The first half is a ride down a modern two lane road down the side of the mountain.  Although there are some spectacular views, the danger factor is definately not there outside of dodging some traffic.The second half is the death road itself.  This is a very old dirt road that runs along the side of the cliff and there is nothing that seperates you from going over.  It´s often rocky and wet adding to the challenge.  Our guides made stops periodicall to prepare us for the next section and to take in the occasional snack.  The trip ended in a small bar where we grabbed a few beers and then caught a ride uphill to hotel Gabriela in the town of Corroico.  There we had time to shower, enjoy the swimming pool for a bit, and then to eat dinner.  The guides then drove us back up the death road to get us home.  I´ve been wanting to do this ride for a long time and it definately did not disappoint, it was one hell of a day.  I´ve got tons of pics, as well as a bunch more for the previous entry, but uploading those will have to wait until I find a better connection.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1224360360/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1224360360/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1224360360/tpod.html Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:47:05 -0500 Trekking the Highlands (Bolivia & Peru)

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

La Paz, Bolivia

The flight from Toronto to La Paz included a six hour stopover in Miami.  The concept of sitting in the airport for six hours did not seem appealing, so we hopped a cab over to South Beach for a few beers and some dinner.  Turned out to be a good call as all of the restaurants along the Ocean Drive strip were doing a 50% off dinner deal.  With a couple of hours to spare we grabbed a cab figuring worst case scenario, there is no traffic and we sit at the airport for 90 minutes or so.  Well, we didnt count on some douche calling in a bomb threat and when coupled with the fact that good ol George W was landing, they shut the place down.  This resulted in a huge traffic jam, us hiking down a highway to the airport and finally getting in through a parking garage.  Good thing we did too, as it turned out that they only shut down one terminal and we would have missed our flight.After all the excitement our red eye to La Paz left an hour late.  La Paz airport is the highest commercial airport in the world and the approach was pretty spectacular.  Unfortunately, getting dropped off at 4500m elevation without a slow ascension is not a fun experience.  I have had a headache since yesterday and walking up even a single flight of stairs gets me exhausted.  I think its starting to get better though thanks to the local remedy of chewing cocoa leaves.La Paz sits on the side of a mountain resulting in some spectacular scenery.  The architecture in downtown is several hundred years old and the hilly, narrow cobblestone roads are filled with activity.  Women in traditional native outfits sell everything from llama fetuses to traditional salt and pepper shakers on every corner.  Wondering around the streets is a trip.  Of course the constant uphill climbing does not mix well with my current condition but its a sacrifice I am willing to make. Last night we checked out the entertainment district and found some good food and nightlife.  Today, I am hoping to catch a live football game and wonder the streets some more.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1225564500/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1225564500/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1225564500/tpod.html Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:46:15 -0400 Trekking the Highlands (Bolivia & Peru)

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Lima, Peru

The last day is here and its kinda surreal.  Tomorrow we fly home and back to the real world. Can´t say I´m happy about that.This is now day three in Lima.  Lima has been very different from the rest of the trip.  The city lacks the charm of every other place we´ve stopped on this trip.  It´s big, dirty and does not have much to offer outside of night time activities.  There are lots of good bars and clubs here and last night Halloween parties were going on everywhere until the early hours of the morning.  Still, I wish we had decided to stay longer in Cuzco. We are staying in Miraflores, which is the main district as far as tourism is concerned.  Downtown Lima is pretty dirty and not really worth spending more than a day trip on.  There are two main squares there connected by a pedestrian street full of stores with a few patios sprinkled around the area.Miraflores is very expensive, and I´ve spent more money here in the last couple of days than I probably have during the rest of the whole trip.  Today we´re gonna go down to the coast and see if we can try some parasailing.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1225372200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1225372200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1225372200/tpod.html Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:15:35 -0400 Trekking the Highlands (Bolivia & Peru)

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Cusco, Peru

With Cusco being the tourism capital of South America, and after hearing mixed reviews, including my own one day stay here before the Machu Piccu trek, I wasn´t sure how I would enjoy the few days in town.  I have to say though that it has been great.Although, overrun by tourists, Cusco is a very charming place.  There is no denying that the amazing architecture left from the days of the Incas and the Spanish, coupled with the mountainous backdrop, make this a city where you can just wonder around and take it in for days.  There is also a very cool nightlife scene once you get outside of the main plaza.  We came across a couple of small live music bars where locals and long term travellers mix in a very laid back atmosphere.  Overall, I have to say that I really like this place and I´m sad to leave.Hopefully the last few days in Lima are up to par with everything else so far.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1225160940/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1225160940/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1225160940/tpod.html Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:54:30 -0400 Trekking the Highlands (Bolivia & Peru)

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Aguas Calientes, Sacred Valley, Peru

After a tame night in Cusco, we woke up early and met up with our guide for the Machu Piccu trip.  We hopped a city bus and went on a spectacular 4 hour bus journey through the Sacred Valley.  We got off at a small restaurant in the middle of nowhere and did a four hour bike ride down to the village of Santa Maria.We stayed in a local hostel and watched a few soccer games that were going on due to the anniversary of the school in the village.  The level of play was extremely high, and considering the village population is under 200 people, I was very impressed.The next morning we began our day of trekking 22kms.  It started with a dirt road at the bottom of the valley.  This included going through a ghost town that used to be the old Santa Maria.  When El Nino came through a few years ago, a number of villages at the bottom of the valley were flooded and most were moved to a new location on higher ground.  This has resulted in a number of abandoned towns and buildings along the rivers edge.The trekking was very challenging as we scaled many steep paths and also covered a spectacular 2km stretch of the Inca trail.  The Inca trail was intense as it is a narrow path that runs along the side of a cliff.  My camera is broken, but luckily the three americans we have been grouped with for the the trip are all professional photographers.  This might be the best documented trip I´ve ever had, and once I get to a faster connection, I´ll begin uploading the pics.We finished the day in the town of Santa Teresa after spending a couple of hours in some natural hot springs just outside of town.  That night we took over a local club and it was a seriously late night.  This morning was rough.Today we covered another stretch of trail along the river and then hiked along the train tracks that lead to the bottom of the Machu Piccu trail.  Tomorrow morning gotta be up at 4am to hike up to Machu Piccu for sunrise.  I´m pumped.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1225222740/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1225222740/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/polakpete/11/1225222740/tpod.html Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:50:52 -0400 Trekking the Highlands (Bolivia & Peru)

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Peru

Today was the toughest day of the trip but it was also by far the most rewarding.  We left the hostel in Aguas to trek up to Machu Piccu before it opened to get some quiet time in the ruins as well as maybe catch the sunrise.  The trek up to the city is about 2 kms of stairs. We raced our way up there in an hour almost killing ourselves in the process, but being part of the very first few people up there was worth it.  The empty city with the mountainous background is a site that I won´t soon forget.Once there though, we quickly made our way to the other side of the ruins to get up Wayna Piccu which is a very steep peak overlooking Machu Piccu.  We did this at a neck braking pace again making it to the top in 30 minutes.  Being the very first people at the peak and not seeing another soul for about 15 minutes was worth the effort though.  This was the highlight of the day for me.After spending about an hour up there and taking some incredible pics we started making our way down.  This proved to be a pain as the narrow path was now littered with people making the trek.  The city itself was now also swamped.  The experience in the peaceful morning is a million times better than when the buses arrive.After wondering around for several hours we hiked back to Aguas Calientes and took a train to Ollantaytambo before catching a bus to Cuzco.  This is a day I will not forget for a long time.  Hoping for some memory burn ins of some of the sights I saw today.
]]>