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A Step or Two in Peru

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HOME » Travel Journals » A Step or Two in Peru

A Step or Two in Peru

By : Holly Sitko
Trip Begins July 19, 2008
Trip Ends July 30, 2008

Visited: Cusco, Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, Inca Trail, Machupicchu, Lima.
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July 19, 2008
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Pit Stop in Lima

Lima, Peru

We arrived in Lima early in the morning. It was 2am or so when we got to Hotel Carmel. We slept a couple of hours and were ready for breakfast by 5:30am. Pick up was at 6am and we were on our way to the airport for our flight to Cusco.

July 20, 2008
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Sunday in Cusco.

Cusco, Peru

Easy flight into Cusco. We were introduced to our guide, Wilbur who took us to our hotel. The Del Prado Inn is right off the main square in Cusco so we were able to catch the parade. Our hotel room was up a few floors and the elevator was out. We didn't mind taking the stairs..... The view from the room overlooked the main square in addition to the hillsides of tiled roof tops. It was beautiful. We ventured out into the stone paved streets and had diner at Mama Africa's, pizza!

July 21, 2008
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Urubamba Rafting

Cusco, Peru

We took the bus ride of our life to get us to the starting point for the rapids trip. Our driver was a level 4-5! When we got to the starting point we put on our gear; wetsuits, jackets and helmets. The rapids were exciting and cold! Good trip. After our level 3-4 rapids we had lunch served. Hot soup, chicken and rice.

When we got back to Cusco we stopped at Mama Africa's and watched a movie, Indiana Jones (filmed in Peru!) After, we had diner at Makayla and walked through the shops for going home gifts. We tried out the pan flutes. Ended this night at K.M.O. for chocolate cake and ice cream. K.M.O. had a t-shirt hanging on the wall that reminded me of home. If you've been there you may know what I'm talking about.

July 22, 2008
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Urubamba Valley (Sacred Valley)

Sacred Valley - OIlantaytambo, Peru

Full day ahead of us. On our way to the Sacred Valley we stopped at the local market for some more shopping. We tried fresh baked empanada. Yummy! After the market we drove to an Alpaca farm to see how all these sweaters we bought were being made.

Pisaq was our next stop. We wondered through the urban, religious and military complexes. The stone work was remarkable. How did they get these rocks here? And the irrigation systems? Impressive. We stopped for lunch at a park and our guide and cook made us stuffed chicken and potatoes. Tasted Inca Cola too. A llama blew air on one of us... at least it wasn't wet! Next stop was Moray.

Moray worked like a greenhouse. Farming terraces all the way down. Took a moment to lie down at the bottom. Just can't describe how it felt to be able to step about all these archaeological sites. Last stop was the Salt Pans.

From the top of the mountain there was no way of knowing what was below. All white and sectioned off. The closer we came the more it looked like ponds. Cool stuff to walk around all those salt ponds. Felt like the matrix or something. Picked up some roasted corn and chullpi hancca too! Now we were headed to our hotel room, Hostal Sauce in Ollantaytamo.

We had diner, el chasqui and lomo saltado, listened to a little Andean music and purchased walking sticks. Time for bed....zzzzzzzzz

July 23, 2008
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Ollantaytambo Ruins

Inca Trail Day 1: WAYLLABAMBA, Peru

The next morning after breakfast we had time to tour the archaeological site. Wilbur showed us the locations for studying astronomy, summer and winter solis and the sacred fountain. The water system is still running through the town. This is one of the most intact villages.

The terrace walls had to be at least 13 feet tall. Asked where the rocks came from and Wilbur pointed to a rock face mountain miles away! Crazy! The van picked us up and we were on our way to the entrance of the Inka Trail.

Q'anabamba, Willkarakay and Q'entimarka were sites we passed before stopping at Patawasi for our first overnight camp stay. We were looking at a sign that showed the trail and tomorrow was a 3000 foot climb! I knew it was only going to get better the higher we got. The group did a great job setting up.

This camping trip had the works. We had a food tent, sleeping tent and even a toilet tent! Food was delicious. Lunch was fresh avocado, tomato, cucumbers, garlic bread, soup, chicken and yaka. Diner we had soup, stuffed trout, spinach, mashed potatoes, pickled veggies and dessert. We even had afternoon tea!

July 24, 2008
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Dead Women's Pass

Inca Trail Day 2: PACAY MAYU, Peru

This is where the stairs at the beginning of the trip come into play. (Remember the broken elevator) We had 3000 feet to climb and part of that included like 1300 stairs! Good stuff. Climbing stairs hasn't been the same since. I climb two flights going into work...it put's a smile on my face to think back to this day.

Anyways...22 years ago our guide and his dad discovered the mummy found at the top of the pass we were climbing. Those walking sticks came in handy. The views were incredible; streams, waterfalls, thickening brush, trees, bridges and the trail was laid of stones that went on forever.

Day 2 and we timed it to our next campsite in about 4 hours and 20 minutes. Two and three course meals once again. Resting high in the Andes. Felt a lot of gratitude this night.

July 25, 2008
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Day Three on the Trail

Inca Trail Day 3: PHUYAPATAMARCA, Peru

We came to Sayaqmarka "Standing Town" and wondered through the ceremonial and resting place. Climbed down to the small houses and looked out over the trail. From here Qoncharmarca was in view and that was our next stopping point. It was incomprehensible when coming to Qoncharmarca and looking back over to Sayaqmarka. The trek is an actual crossing on the tops of the Andes. Mountain hopping. Just incredible to look across and see where I've been and looking ahead to where I was going. When Wilbur pointed out up that range and around that bend... I just couldn't believe I was there.

Now we were getting into the rain forest. The soft moss covered rocks were of all colors; red, orange, yellow, white, brown. Flowers; bomerias, snapdragons, salvia and passion. Cedar trees, bamboo, berries, plants of all types. We came to natural stone tunnels that were cut through on the trail. We heard birds or frogs and saw one of the largest humming birds. That bird was loud...almost like a mini helicopter when it flew by me! Butterflies appeared along the way, almost like they were playing with us.

We camped next to Phuyupatamarka. After resting for a little while we headed out to climb more stairs on Phuyupatamarka. An archeological playground. Our guide took us up to a near peak. The lookout was 360 degrees of mountains and glaciers. We were in the clouds. The sun rained through with unimaginable beauty. Something I've only witnessed on television and I was here! Will never forget all that beauty. When the fog cleared the stars seemed only an arms length away.

July 26, 2008
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Final Day on the Trail

Machu Picchu, Peru

Excited to see Machupicchu but sad to leave the Andes. I would of liked to go back through the rain forest again! We had eggs, bacon and pancakes for breakfast. Just like the 2,2,2 at home!

We climbed down approx. 2400 steps before getting to Winaywayna. We stopped here for lunch. We got there early enough so we had time to play at the Winaywayna site. Our guide tipped us off about a waterfall and I think it was "Forever Young" or something like that. We were a little sore but it was so worth taking those extra steps to see it.

Back on the trail and we finaly come to Intipunku "Sun Gate" around 12:40pm. From here Macchupicchu was in site. People that took the train were hiking up as we were hiking down. Machupicchu was the biggest site yet. With all the play on the other sites, we decided to head into town to our hotel and hit the hot springs. We would come back tomorrow so one of us could climb Waynapicchu and then meet up to tour Machupicchu.

The bus ride down was a little scary with all the switchbacks and sharing the one way road with other buses but we made it safe to our hotel. The hot springs were okay. Felt good on those sore muscles.

July 27, 2008
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Machupicchu and Train Ride

Cusco, Peru

We met up at Machupicchu for our final tour. Folks speculate about what happened to the Inca’s at Machupicchu. Our tour guide said it was no mystery at all. The king evacuated so the Spanish wouldn't find it! It was by the far the largest site and it had the most stone work. It was time to start travels towards going home.

We took the train back to Ollantaytambo and from there took a van back to Cusco. This was our last night in Cusco. We drove by a parade and local feast going on just before hitting the main square. They were celebrating the upcoming Independence Day. This was the first sighting of roasted guinea pig.

July 28, 2008
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Independence Day

Lima, Peru

This was the start of a holiday in Peru, Independence Day. Our flight back to Lima went smooth. While it was nice to be back in civilization it was a bit of a transition from being around so much beauty. We took it easy, walked around, went to a movie and called it a night.

July 29, 2008
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Last day in Lima

Lima, Peru

We hit the local Starbucks! Was able to catch up on communications and did some reading. We decided to walk towards the ocean and continued for three miles along the coast. Surfers and parasails were active along the beach. We came across a mall and did a little browsing and had lunch at Tony Roma. Hit the arcade and played some air hockey and race games. Did some more walking to check out Mi Amour park and then came back to watch another movie, Hancock.

July 30, 2008
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Leave for home

Flights back went smooth and our ride was waiting for us at the airport. What a trip! Looking forward to traveling again.

My Photo Album: A Step or Two in Peru
SpectacularHotel viewCusco Main SquareLive musicDusk at CuscoTiled hillsideStairs???Finger puppetsAlpaca overloadPan flute playerMakayla RestaurantAnother lookShadow viewUrubamba Rafting TripWatch out!To Sacred ValleyAlpaca farm stopPisaqUrubamba ValleyPrincess chairPisaq marketGrand viewMoray Inca RuinKickn at MoraTraffic JamMaras Salt PansSalt PansGot Salt?Spiritual OllantaytamboHave a seatStill runsStart Inka TrailFood TentEasy so farSmileNext 3000 feet From Inka TrailIm comingAlmost thereWe made it!Rain ForrestInka TrailUp thereIncredible viewWilburWowOur groupWinaywaynaResting placeFarming terracesWindow seatFalls at WinaywaynaWilbur tipAhhhSun GateAlmost thereTo MachupicchuTheres MachupicchuAmazingFrom WaynapicchuUp on WaynapicchuI was hereBig rocksMore stepsThree WindowsSo grandSymbolicEnter at own riskCan I stay?ShapesIndependence dayHot SpringsLimaLima walkMi Amor Park

 

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