Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
My new year started with collecting the keys to our new house! That was the start of a very hectic time for me! Suddenly everything seemed to get first priority….decorating, buying furniture and fittings, actually moving house and buying travelling gear worth a fortune (for those who understand: the Bever owes me one!). Along side this I also had the year end close at work, various other odd jobs and a lot of catching up to do with friends! I suppose you could say I was ready for a holiday once the 18th of February arrived!
After packing my bag on the Saturday night late (how come I never seem to get things done in advance) I got into a real stress on the Sunday morning! I had lost the goodbye card I bought for Ruben. This took my mind off the fact that I was actually really s***ting myself... The voice of doom as Amanda and Garth have christened it: what if the airplane crashes? What if I am left standing by myself at the airport?... what if!
As you have probably guessed I arrived safe and sound in a very busy (and slightly polluted) but warm Lima after a 15.5 hour flight! It was lovely to see Amanda and Garth waiting for me!
Lima was what you would describe as a big city! Lots of cars, pollution, shops etc.. The Miraflores area was modern and comfortable but the centre of the city felt a little unsafe. I suppose the horror stories are difficult to forget as you don’t want to be the naive traveller who has their bag nicked within the first day!
The beaches in Lima were not up to our very strict standards :-) so after a couple of days there seeing the sites etc we decided quickly to move on down the South Coast of Peru on our way to Cusco. The journey there was my first confrontation with the standards of living and the great expanses of sand in the Peruvian dessert. I spent the whole way staring out the window amazed by the baron landscape and the half finished huts and houses! I actually thought Peru was one great mass of mountains and green but I suppose that serves me right for not reading my Lonely Planet before leaving!
We stopped over in Paracas (Pisco), a small fisher’s town, for a trip to the national park. After being attacked by hostal agents we actually found a very nice hostel and a very good Chilean ´guide´ (Felix). The park was great.. lots of sea lions, penguins, dolphins and so on! A taxi trip around the area was also good for a few picture opportunities. After a few days relaxing at the pool and my first experience of the travellers bug we left the very fishy smelling fishers town to go to ICA.
In Haucachino (ICA) we found a great hostal with pool (who said backpacking was hard!). This was a great little Oasis in the middle of the desert! We inevitably went sand boarding which was absolutely excellent! Watched the sun go down and in the evening we had our first (since Lima) decent meal in ages. I would not recommend Peru for the food…
After pulling the short straw (as I am actually too much of a wuss to fly) I found myself on the bus to Nazca where Garth and I went up in a verrrryyy small 3 seater plane to see the Nazca lines! It was very scary but glad I did it! This was our stop over for a day before leaving in the evening for Cusco.
The 15 hour bus journey was hell for some (with stomach aches etc) but with my blow up cushion and large seat I actually made it through the night just fine! However, if i had been able to see outside I would have had a heart attack. A trip up 3400m of winding mountain paths in Peru is not for the faint hearted!!
Found ourselves in a hostal in Cusco which can only be described as ´little totnes´! Spiritual minds all meet there! I had a right laugh listening to some of the conversations. However, I can’t complain, I had my first nights rest without being woken up by either: traffic, dogs, chickens or parrots. However, the warm water hasn’t been working all day and I have not had a shower in nearly 3 days!!!!!!! Aaah.. I found myself wondering around Cusco half in pyjamas trying to find another hostel with Beccy and Amanda! But, no luck! And after loosing my bank card all I can say is ´the adventures have begun and thank f*** for my mastercard!!
We have found a great place to eat here called Jacks place so this has become our new haven for the coming days before doing the Inca trail to Macchu Picchu! I am off for one of their great Ginger and Lime teas..
- comments