May 21, 2013 - more inca stuff on the return to Cuzco

So we had one last day in Cuzco before moving on. Took a stroll through the big central market.....interesting and colourful place with plenty of gross stuff too. Had our first real go at typical Peruvian street food....chicken Milanese. Pretty tasty but south Americans do not know how to make chips....no matter where you get them they are howlin. Tried some desserts also, pretty good, Lou loved hers, fruit and yoghurt city. Still no joy finding lucuma which disappointed me. After that we went and looked at some old pish, partly cos our...

May 14, 2013 - Cuzco we're here

Just arrived in Cuzco....its baltic! Although Lou is roasting and also off her face and mildly hysterical with the altitude (over 10k feet above sea level) while I'm ragin that I don't have a similar buzz. We're just chillin in our nice hotel with a bucket load of coca tea for a while before going on a food hunt and checkin out the main square before it gets dark. And we both need a decent shit :D

May 14, 2013 - Lima to Cuzco

We left Lima yesterday afternoon and flew over the Andes into Cuzco which when we arrived was cold and wet (don't get excited folks, still warmer than at home). Got a taxi to a great old colonial style hotel not far from the town square which we were assured was muy tranquilo. On arriving in Cuzco I was immediately hit with altitude problems, symptoms were as follows: stoned with paranoia, slightly nauseous and the beginnings of a headache which just lingered. Vic was completely unscathed by above illness and we were in bed with lights out...

Nov 13, 2012 - Shopping, walking, eating

Apparently the altitude in Cusco can effect people in an array of ways. For me, major insomnia, and for Jenn a mild headache, but for her luckily it went away about as fast as it came. We decided that for our first day in Cusco we would do the free walking tour advertised in our hostels reception. We slept in late, caught the tail end of our free breakfast and made our way to the center square to look for a guy wearing a WTF t-shirt as advertised on the flyer. Clearly with a beginning like this we were expecting nothing boring, and...

Jul 8, 2012 - Walking Cuzco

The first full day in Cuzco was great. Lonely Planet suggested this walking tour that took us past several old churches and through a huge market. We decided to pay the 5 soles to enter the San Francisco Church. It is an old church that dates back to the 17th Century established by the Dominicans. A man with the keys let us in and then gave us a guided tour of the whole facility. Incredible paintings. Very interesting archetecture. He only spoke Spanish, so I picked up about every third word. Fortunately, Basilio filled in the gaps for me....

Jul 6, 2012 - Travel to Cuzco

We finally arrived in Cuzco today at the end of three days of travel. It has been a fun trip, but a little tough. Basilios friend V picked us up on Wednesday at 530 a.m. and dropped us at LAX. We flew to DFW. Mom and Dad picked me up and took me to my sisters house for a 4th of July celebration. Basilio went to his aunts house for some long overdue time with his cousins. On Thursday, we met back at the airport and boarded a flight to Mexico City. We had plenty of time there. Turned out to be a good thing because we couldnt find the LAN Air...

Nov 25, 2011 - Cuzco

What a lovely town this is - shame we only have one day here instead of 2 because of the delayed flight. We had a few things (travel and tickets to Machu Picchu) to organise when we got here but did a lovely city tour walk out of Lonely Planet Guide when we finally had everything under control. Our hotel (Rimi Pakku) is absolutely fantastic. Probably the best so far and well situated being only 3 blocks from the main Plaza.

Oct 10, 2011 - RANT TIME

Rant time Everyone who knows me knows I like a wee moan now and then and I think on this trip I have been ok, that doesn't mean I havent collected some moans!!!!...I'm sure these will grow as time goes on!!! Numero uno, goes to seriously slow Internet!!!...I don't want to use it all the time but when i do I want it to be good!!!...so sick of skype phone calls that consist of "hello, can you hear me".."can you hear me"..."hello"...omg!!!..even a simple task of Internet banking turns into a nightmare when it crashes half way through and you...

Oct 9, 2011 - Cuzco airport, Ollantaytambo & Yucay

We had to get up at an ungodly hour to make it to Lima Airport for a 0645 flight. To make matters worse, the prearranged cab was 30 minutes late so that when we arrived at the airport at 0545 we were met with chaos. Hundreds of people standing in queues, many clearly held over from the day before. Finally we managed to get our cases on board and then faced the catastrophe of security which was like an overcrowded barn of chooks. I thought I lost my suitcase keys in the maelstrom but they turned up later in my jacket pocket. The flight to...

Oct 1, 2011 - Peru

Upon arrival in Cuzco it was clear to see that Peru was another surprise waiting to be unwrapped. Cuzco, at an altitude of 3500m, is a city that would not appear out of place in a listing of Great European Cities. The beautifully maintained lawns and flowers of Plaza de Arnas (Central Plaza) are ringed by imposing churches (which borrow the Inca ruins of the 1500's for their foundations), gourmet restaurants, funky bars, tourist shops and clothing stores. When walking through the centre and surrounding suburbs it is plain to see that the...

Aug 7, 2011 - Cuzco

7 hours on public transit anywhere in the world could be challenging regardless of how magnificent the scenery is... but it is all worthwhile once we arrived in Cuzco! Cuzco is likely the most touristy city in S.America, street vendors would sell you anything from alpaca socks to a massage if you have the money to spend. But the cobblestone streets, the stone buildings with big wooden carved doors and central courtyards, the fountains with statues of inca warriors and animals, the terrance mountains in the background and so on, all make you...

Jul 23, 2011 - Cuzco

We where is Cuzco for four days, so we were planning a little relax, a little tea and cake etc. Some of that happened, but also Sarah was taken into hospital :( Poor thing got Salmonella and Typhoid, she was really sick. Doctor however was amazing, in he trotted with his Harley belt, helmet and all in denim and set about sorting her out. We did abandon her for a day and go rafting. Fell out once and froze our little tootsies off but all had smiles on our faces after. Had to also leave her while we went to do the Inca Trail as well, bunch...