Friday, 30 April 2010
Thursday, 29 April 2010
Next Stop Brazil!
Just to fill you all in on where we are now.......I am currently sat in the hostel in SAO PAULO!!!! Yep - Brazil!
After Lago Titicaca (check out my spanish!) we headed back to Cusco (think we have both fallen in love with that place!) and spent a few days relaxing and chilling out before stepping on board TAM airlines to head to Sao Paulo. Charlie had a few scary moments where she saw someone eating peanuts in the terminal but you can all breath a sigh of relief that the couple in question DIDNT get on our plane!! Phew i hear you all say!
Stepping off the plane in Sao Paulo was a bit of a culture shock as they had tarmac roads (with no pot holes!), cars that look like cars and not bumper cars and buildings which are more than 3 stories and not made of mud!!!! All very strange!
Also a little bit of a shock to be staying in a dorm with 4 others, especially after the luxury we have had over the last 3 weeks but luckily we were both so tired that we didnt notice the others come in around midnight!
Spent a day wandering Sao Paulo (which is very much like anyother city except they speak Portugues!) and are about to meet up with one of Charlies work collegues brother-in-law!! (Poor man i know - dont think he had a choice in the matter!)
Anyho - off to Curitiba (Brazil still) in a couple of days to spend some time at the seaside!
Bye for now!
Jo xx
After Lago Titicaca (check out my spanish!) we headed back to Cusco (think we have both fallen in love with that place!) and spent a few days relaxing and chilling out before stepping on board TAM airlines to head to Sao Paulo. Charlie had a few scary moments where she saw someone eating peanuts in the terminal but you can all breath a sigh of relief that the couple in question DIDNT get on our plane!! Phew i hear you all say!
Stepping off the plane in Sao Paulo was a bit of a culture shock as they had tarmac roads (with no pot holes!), cars that look like cars and not bumper cars and buildings which are more than 3 stories and not made of mud!!!! All very strange!
Also a little bit of a shock to be staying in a dorm with 4 others, especially after the luxury we have had over the last 3 weeks but luckily we were both so tired that we didnt notice the others come in around midnight!
Spent a day wandering Sao Paulo (which is very much like anyother city except they speak Portugues!) and are about to meet up with one of Charlies work collegues brother-in-law!! (Poor man i know - dont think he had a choice in the matter!)
Anyho - off to Curitiba (Brazil still) in a couple of days to spend some time at the seaside!
Bye for now!
Jo xx
Lake TitiCACA!
Last week we travelled from Cusco to Puno on a very bumpy bus ride. On arrival in Puno we were greeted by a friendly taxi driver who took us to our very posh 3 star hotel. I don't think we will be getting this sort of treatment further down the trip!!! Peru is very cheap :-)
The following day we went on a boat to Lake TitiCACA - whichs mean puma and rock apparently. Our guide would put alot of emphasis on CACA (hence the capitals!). We sailed 1hr to Uros - which are floating reed islands on the lake. They were pretty impressive and floated!
After we sailed another 3hrs to Amantani Island. This was going to be our home for the evening. On arrival we were greeted by the islanders who were to be our new family. We were met by our new sister Lulu. She lead us back to her house to meet the rest of the family. Here lunch had been prepared and after meeting and greeting we had some lunch....For lunch we had Quinea soup - a favourite dish of Peru followed by some odd looking potatoes (purple and maggot like), corn and fried cheese. Yum! After dinner we played a spot of football with the rest of the group and locals on concrete pitch. Guess who feel over....??! We then trekked upto the highest point on the island (for which we had a tour guide and were allowed to do this time). Here we sat and watched the sunset - or big storm moving in!
Following our little trek it was time for some dinner. More soup - this time with rice and potatoes. This was followed by some more pasta, rice and potatoes. Very tasty...if not a bit carbohydrated out! During dinner the storm hit - or sounded very bad on the tin roof of our home.
Once we had eaten we were taken to our rooms and dressed up in some lovely local style dresses. These had belts around your waist which were so tight that breathing and digesting was difficult! After we had been made to look just like the locals we were marched off to the village hall for some traditional dancing. This was very hard at altitude and tied into our dresses!!
We said goodbye to our family in the morning - who kindly woke us up at 4am :-). We then sailed to another island (Taquile - amazing views) where we had our lunch before returning back to Puno.
All in all it was an interesting experience, the homestay was odd but the people were very friendly and the islands and views amazing. We were also lucky to have great weather - minus the storm during dinner!
Next stop Brazil!
Charlie and Jo x
The following day we went on a boat to Lake TitiCACA - whichs mean puma and rock apparently. Our guide would put alot of emphasis on CACA (hence the capitals!). We sailed 1hr to Uros - which are floating reed islands on the lake. They were pretty impressive and floated!
After we sailed another 3hrs to Amantani Island. This was going to be our home for the evening. On arrival we were greeted by the islanders who were to be our new family. We were met by our new sister Lulu. She lead us back to her house to meet the rest of the family. Here lunch had been prepared and after meeting and greeting we had some lunch....For lunch we had Quinea soup - a favourite dish of Peru followed by some odd looking potatoes (purple and maggot like), corn and fried cheese. Yum! After dinner we played a spot of football with the rest of the group and locals on concrete pitch. Guess who feel over....??! We then trekked upto the highest point on the island (for which we had a tour guide and were allowed to do this time). Here we sat and watched the sunset - or big storm moving in!
Following our little trek it was time for some dinner. More soup - this time with rice and potatoes. This was followed by some more pasta, rice and potatoes. Very tasty...if not a bit carbohydrated out! During dinner the storm hit - or sounded very bad on the tin roof of our home.
Once we had eaten we were taken to our rooms and dressed up in some lovely local style dresses. These had belts around your waist which were so tight that breathing and digesting was difficult! After we had been made to look just like the locals we were marched off to the village hall for some traditional dancing. This was very hard at altitude and tied into our dresses!!
We said goodbye to our family in the morning - who kindly woke us up at 4am :-). We then sailed to another island (Taquile - amazing views) where we had our lunch before returning back to Puno.
All in all it was an interesting experience, the homestay was odd but the people were very friendly and the islands and views amazing. We were also lucky to have great weather - minus the storm during dinner!
Next stop Brazil!
Charlie and Jo x
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Cusco and more...
Crikey....its a week since our last blog so what have we been up too...
Well after the trek myself and Jo plus a few fellow trekkers, namely Martina and Lou spent a few relaxing days in Cusco. After not trekking for a few days we all got withdrawal symtoms so decided another trek was in order. We asked a tour operator if a. we could have a map of the area and b. if one could walk around the local area. The answer to both was NO. We didnt believe the answer so off we treked....
The tour operator was in fact correct. You need a pass and pay too even walk to the main sights on the hillsides above Cusco. So our trek involved pretending we werent walking to the main sights and walking away from the secruity guards on duty. We did manage a lovely pinic beneath one of them however before heading down the undergrowth..away from the secruity huts and back to Cusco. The trek involved going through the undergrowth, across a waste dump and a locals back garden avec chickens. We were polite, said hola and contined down to the main areas of Cusco. All in all a succesful trek...well ish. However, in future we have learnt that when the local tour operator says you cant....they are probably right!!!
After saying goodbye to our fellow trekkers on weds, myself and Jo planned the next leg of the journey through Brazil and prepared for our Lake Titicaca adventure which we have just returned from.
Will update with the Titicaca homestay experience and hopefully pictures soon!
Bye 4 now
Charlie and Jo x
Well after the trek myself and Jo plus a few fellow trekkers, namely Martina and Lou spent a few relaxing days in Cusco. After not trekking for a few days we all got withdrawal symtoms so decided another trek was in order. We asked a tour operator if a. we could have a map of the area and b. if one could walk around the local area. The answer to both was NO. We didnt believe the answer so off we treked....
The tour operator was in fact correct. You need a pass and pay too even walk to the main sights on the hillsides above Cusco. So our trek involved pretending we werent walking to the main sights and walking away from the secruity guards on duty. We did manage a lovely pinic beneath one of them however before heading down the undergrowth..away from the secruity huts and back to Cusco. The trek involved going through the undergrowth, across a waste dump and a locals back garden avec chickens. We were polite, said hola and contined down to the main areas of Cusco. All in all a succesful trek...well ish. However, in future we have learnt that when the local tour operator says you cant....they are probably right!!!
After saying goodbye to our fellow trekkers on weds, myself and Jo planned the next leg of the journey through Brazil and prepared for our Lake Titicaca adventure which we have just returned from.
Will update with the Titicaca homestay experience and hopefully pictures soon!
Bye 4 now
Charlie and Jo x
Thursday, 15 April 2010
Machu Picchu Done!
Wow. We have just completed a 4 day trek to the Inka city of Machu Picchu - a total of 43km trekked up (highest point 4215m) and down the Andes mountains. Wake up calls ranged between 4 - 5am each morning but we were fed (and oh how we were fed) 3 course meals 3 times a day. One breakfast included toast, porridge and egg....that was an especially hard day!
The porters on the trek were amazing, while we struggled with our little day packs they ran up in front of us wearing just sandles and carrying our food, tent, sleeping bags, clothes and a cheese grator (jo was most impressed by this)! You name it they supplied it. Even on the last day of the trek baking us a jelly cake. Yes you heard it, jelly and cake together cooked up a mountain. A mazing!!!!
Anyho we are now very much looking forward to a real bed, shower and toilet as we return back to the real world. Currently waiting for our train back to Cusco.
We will hopefully update you shortly with some pictures of the trek and journey so far.......
Charlie and Jo x
P.S Ruby the rhino (Jos little friend) also made it safely up and down machu picchu and Tina the Turkey who has a chicken complex (thats Charlies friend) also enjoyed her trip and view from the back of Charlies backpack!!!
The porters on the trek were amazing, while we struggled with our little day packs they ran up in front of us wearing just sandles and carrying our food, tent, sleeping bags, clothes and a cheese grator (jo was most impressed by this)! You name it they supplied it. Even on the last day of the trek baking us a jelly cake. Yes you heard it, jelly and cake together cooked up a mountain. A mazing!!!!
Anyho we are now very much looking forward to a real bed, shower and toilet as we return back to the real world. Currently waiting for our train back to Cusco.
We will hopefully update you shortly with some pictures of the trek and journey so far.......
Charlie and Jo x
P.S Ruby the rhino (Jos little friend) also made it safely up and down machu picchu and Tina the Turkey who has a chicken complex (thats Charlies friend) also enjoyed her trip and view from the back of Charlies backpack!!!
Thursday, 8 April 2010
Next Stop Cuzco!
Well we have done Arequipa to death...litterally as we saw a 500yr old mummy today! tehe!!
We are about to board the night bus to Cuzco to start the big trek whichdoesnt sounbd so fun!
Done a lot of walking so far in 25degree heat which i suppose i shouldnt complain about!
Will keep you all up to date - sorry this is a bit short - think the sun has made me a bit sleepy!
Love Jo and Charlie
PS NEarly forgot to say......we also ate guinea pig yesterday! Alot like chicken except a little less meat so you may not want to eat the pet ones yet! Apparently they are most tasty around 3-4months old!!! hahahaha
xx
We are about to board the night bus to Cuzco to start the big trek whichdoesnt sounbd so fun!
Done a lot of walking so far in 25degree heat which i suppose i shouldnt complain about!
Will keep you all up to date - sorry this is a bit short - think the sun has made me a bit sleepy!
Love Jo and Charlie
PS NEarly forgot to say......we also ate guinea pig yesterday! Alot like chicken except a little less meat so you may not want to eat the pet ones yet! Apparently they are most tasty around 3-4months old!!! hahahaha
xx
Wednesday, 7 April 2010
We are in Peru
Hola all from Peru. We arrive safely after a crazy long journey, total time probably around 24hrs!!!
Started in Lima - which was very hot. After an interesting taxi ride we found our hotel and met up with the tour group.
Spent the day in Lima before travelling via plane to Arequipa. Trip plans were changed slightly due to miner strikes in Nazca. This saved us a night bus journey so all in all we were quite happy. Although not too happy to be sat on a plane so soon!!
In Arequipa we went on a trip to colca canyon, here we went to some hot springs (rubbish!!) and saw some big birds.... Condors to be specific.
We are now back in Arequipa for 2 days before travelling on a night bus to Cusco to start the trek to Macha Pitchu.
Hope weather in england is as nice as its been here, we are abit red! Missing you all
Bye 4 now, hopefully update after completing Macha Pitchu :-)
Charlie and Jo x
Started in Lima - which was very hot. After an interesting taxi ride we found our hotel and met up with the tour group.
Spent the day in Lima before travelling via plane to Arequipa. Trip plans were changed slightly due to miner strikes in Nazca. This saved us a night bus journey so all in all we were quite happy. Although not too happy to be sat on a plane so soon!!
In Arequipa we went on a trip to colca canyon, here we went to some hot springs (rubbish!!) and saw some big birds.... Condors to be specific.
We are now back in Arequipa for 2 days before travelling on a night bus to Cusco to start the trek to Macha Pitchu.
Hope weather in england is as nice as its been here, we are abit red! Missing you all
Bye 4 now, hopefully update after completing Macha Pitchu :-)
Charlie and Jo x
Friday, 2 April 2010
T minus 6 hours!
Only 6 hours to go and still sooooooo much to do!!! ahhhhhhhh!
Hope this blog doesnt make you all too jealous! But do feel a little sorry for me....i have to sit on a plane with Charlie wearing a face mask! HELP!!!! tehe!
Only have to repack once more then i am ready to go! wohoooo!
Speak to you all soon.....from Peru!
Jo ;0)
Hope this blog doesnt make you all too jealous! But do feel a little sorry for me....i have to sit on a plane with Charlie wearing a face mask! HELP!!!! tehe!
Only have to repack once more then i am ready to go! wohoooo!
Speak to you all soon.....from Peru!
Jo ;0)
T minus hours not days!!
Soooooooo we have packed the house (mainly into one room at 79 - Sorry Flintster).
The bags are packed or nearly (so far packed mine about 5x and counting).
Online check in complete and the seats on board chosen!!
We are nearly ready for TAKE OFF. Yeeee.
T minus hours and not days now, 17hours and counting......
The bags are packed or nearly (so far packed mine about 5x and counting).
Online check in complete and the seats on board chosen!!
We are nearly ready for TAKE OFF. Yeeee.
T minus hours and not days now, 17hours and counting......
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