Peru 2004

My trip to Peru began as all my other holiday ..... long plane trip. But let's not forget all vaccinations and protective equipment that I had before leaving. Vaccination against yellow fever, malaria pills, and various other drugs that I took with me just in case. OK, if a nurse always a nurse. I flew from Chicago to Miami to Lima, Peru. A little 'rough, but landed in one piece. I waited at the airport in Lima for my friends Mary and Catherine are available on their flight. FromAirport we went to a bed and breakfast in Lima. The next morning we started our adventure in Peru.

Peru is a country of lost time in the jungle of tangled vines, cobwebs imperial tombs under the desert sun baking and antique treasures beyond billing. The rivers that rage around Cuzco, puma, hunting at night and shaman rituals that are centuries old. Even the Inca warriors and Spanish conquistadors was not permanent in this wild land. No one could fully appreciate theGround on which dozens of peaks over 5000m including Machu Picchu, the great deserts and beaches, warm steaming rain forests of the Amazon basin. Peru will surprise you with its diversity, many of its indigenous peoples, languages and traditions, their rainbow diversity of wildlife. Travel where and how the Spirit moves - a luxury in the Amazon, economic ceviche in a cafe on the beach or a scenic ride through the rise of the Andes - it is allsurprisingly affordable.

At a time when Peru was home to several prominent Andean civilizations, the Incas certainly the most important. The incredible Incas built temples in the mountains, palaces and other buildings, all without mortar, have built nearly 10,000 kilometers of roads, bridges and aqueducts built functional built to carry water. At the height of Inca influence in 1532, the Spanish conquistadors arrived in their quest for gold and otherWealth, they run the local Indians and their leader, their cities and have been caught in a short period of spread of this powerful and innovative culture in the wind and nearly destroyed. For nearly 300 years served Peru as a Spanish colony, but in the early nineteenth century native settler discontent and revolt led the demands for independence, local insurrections, and then, the civil war in 1821 with the Spanish finally conquered in 1824. In the next century or so, Perusuffered many wars, some with the neighbors, brutal dictatorship, military coups and the consequent political upheaval that comes with the territory.

After an overnight stay in Lima, we began to Pisco. We took the bus and then a "collective" transferred. What is a collective? It is thought that small minivan with 7 people in their luggage and, oh yeah a bicycle. I was in the back of the "van", and I had hand luggage. Luckily it was only a short drive. As we made friends withthe other in the van is due to close contact Mary lost her first. We met a man from England that cycling his way through South America. As we said we were to see the places in Pisco and had a B & B we stayed with him, would have to tag along fun. We have in our hotel and we had our room and met the ground floor for a couple of drinks. We were introduced to a Pisco Sour. It was like a Tom Collins, but with one shot. We had a few drinks discussed our plans for the next dayand decided it was time to go to bed.

The next day we took a tour to see some of the cost of online pages. We were going to a beach, where it rarely rains. Our guide said he did not remember ever rain in his life. This place never seemed to rain. It is not a plant in sight. I do not even remember seeing all these animals. Although the sea was there and it seemed that the moon, sterile and lifeless. The desert and the sea together in a spectacular way to arrive at Paracas, inthe department of Ica, a few hours south of the city of Lima. The rocks that fringe the beaches are full of life: millions of birds that live here all year, and thousands of others that fly south from the northern hemisphere, and later by guano birds Humboldt penguins. Then, we would see a reserve. From there we took a boat to the hunting grounds on the island to see. This was Guana Island. Yes, I said guano. This is the nest of birds and as the islandWC.

Paracas National Reserve is a haven for seals, Humboldt penguins, flamingos and many other birds. You can visit several archaeological sites and natural reserves. One of these is a Candlestick El geoglyphs of more than 120 meters / 394 feet in length to better appreciate the sea. The pejerrey Punta, from where the view of the hills on the lamp-like figure in the sand with a candlestick technique similar to the Nazca carvedLines, though perhaps a different source: Theories range from pirates buried treasure, which marks the place for soldiers to fight for Latin American independence from Spain. Ballestas are located outside the reserve. They are the habitat for a wide variety of birds and sea lions that can be approached by boat. This trip is one of the regulars of Paracas. The following site we planned to see were in Nazca.

Like her, the coastal mountainsextend to the flats of the dry Nazca, one might think that this interest will be assigned just stops desolate Pampa. This width was bleached by the sun most of the outside world until 1939, when the North American scientist Paul Kosok flies through the desert and saw a large number of lines and figures etched down, which had initially ignored a rich pre-implantation Inca irrigation. What he had stumbled upon one of the most impressive and mysterious ancient Peru:the world-famous Nazca lines. 12/39 meters by one meter observation tower, you can observe some forms of hand and the tree. In order, however, are fully aware of the drawings, it is recommended to fly over the area in a small airplane. I saw the lines from the sky. The aircraft was a small propeller plane. Fits fourth overall this has been an exciting journey. I slipped in the back seat behind the pilot. It 'been a good fit. I was very nervous. While the back seat, I realized that the pilot hadOxygen tubing and mask in its scope. I did notice that my friends and wondered why he was the only one with oxygen and we do not need. He stopped in the plan, after a quick check of the aircraft. When we started on the runway I wondered if we got off the ground, which of course we did. My stomach was a bit 'nervous and it was a good thing I took Dramamine before going on air.

Every time the pilot dipped the plane's side to look better the line, I took the seatI fell out of the plane. All I wanted to say, "yes I see now you can fly" could. He would go to the top of the page would be at least one alarm in the plan. I said that the pilot would not have done that I could see. All say, "Okay .... You see!" Did not stop me grabbed the seat in front of me, that was the pilot. It was my first time in a small plane (and not the last). It 'was an experience.

Today the small town of Nazca is constantly floodedof travelers, they see, to admire and scratching their heads about the purpose of these mysterious lines that have been declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 1994. Nasca lines is a vast network of lines and drawings of animals and plants credited to the Nasca culture, with an area of 350 km2 / 135 km. Some of the best-drawn are the hummingbirds, dog, monkey, and the long-tailed thrush.

Germany's Maria Reiche, 50 years of his life devoted to the studyand exploration of the area and came to the conclusion that it was an astronomical calendar. There are many theories about this mysterious etchings, landing strips for extraterrestrials to a giant seismograph. The most likely theory is that of Maria Reiche, a German researcher that her life is the study of the lines. Ms Reiche believed that the lines part of a huge astronomical calendar, the figures were different solar phases. Mrs. Reiche, affectionately known as the angelPlains of the local population, was the first to discover transported to the site of the ancient technique of digging in the desert floor hard and dry for the title with stones from a distance. The component of the existing natural gypsum contributed in the area, thousands of years gets the drawings: the hummingbird, the spider, the condor and the monkey, from the over 30 figures carved in the valley.

The Nazca Lines are the legacy of an extraordinary culture that has leftflourished in 300 BC. The Nazca culture is not believed to have been capable of manned flight. But the question remains, such as drawings, what technology they used and for what purpose the lines served fact.

Arequipa was of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes almost every century since the Spanish arrived in 1540, the second city of Peru, is not lacking for drama shakes. Arequipa was named the White City. Its distinctive stone adorns the stately Plaza de Armas,dotted with many beautiful colonial churches, monasteries and manor houses throughout the city.

What is the second city of Peru, so compelling is the obvious benefit that their citizens enjoy all the good things in life, especially in the region, spicy food, shops and nightlife. The pulse of urban life, is optimistic. The streets are full of crowds suppliers, bankers, artists, students and nuns. There is no better place in the south, to regenerate the tired bones,especially during the waiting period to acclimatise for a couple of days before scaling higher altitudes of Cuzco. One of the sites I was dared to Colca Canyon.

Colca Canyon is a beautiful part of Peru offering stunning scenery and one of the best ways to see the condors in the wild. Of course, we took a bus there. We needed to get by 1 time to catch the bus. It 'was a local bus. The bus had opened the window and was backed up with people and chickens. I said, was a local bus. We wantednarrow mountain passes and the bus was traveling fast and you could feel the thin curves. I tried to sleep, so I forgot the corridors. Finally we have the throat, and we got off the bus. There was no one there. Dawn was just beginning to break. There were only a few people on this site. E 'was below freezing and we were not prepared for this time. Before our bus left in the open trunk of the bus. When it opened, people started withsell knitwear. I have a wicked place. As soon as the sun rose the condor came out. These are beautiful birds. It 'was a place to see and worth the adventure to get there.

On the way to our destination near Cuzco, I'd take the bus. The trip went on four or five hours ..... so I thought. I was at the bus stop and our bus is late, so I waited. I waited two hours. I always asked the man at the box office when the bus came, and he said, "no,Concerns. "It seems that in many other areas of transportation over time and no one disturbed them." We Americans worry too much ... " Relax. After reaching the bus terminal. I took the bus and waits for a relaxing stay. About halfway along the path of the bus broke. He broke a small town, fortunately had a cellar, where we have a drink to eat. I had to wait for a bus replacement, because this could get driver was after trying to solve the bus for an hour, notSecure the bus. The replacement bus was from the deposit, which is two hours away. Now I was living in the cellar hours without running water for bathing ... You do not know what I had to use as a toilet, and we had to eat. E 'was broadcast about 40 degrees Celsius and no heat for the building open. I waited and waited. I started conversations with some of the local people and a family I wanted to bring his son was in his 20's home with me in America. L 'replacement bus arrived at the winery to watch 3. I waited for the bus and hope for the peaceful end of my journey. I checked into our hotel a day late, but the room was still there for me.

The Andean city of Cuzco is the support of many uncomfortable headlines. It was once the city in particular, the Inca Empire and today is the undisputed capital of archaeological and South America, the oldest inhabited city on the continent. Few travelers to skip this visit PeruPremier South American destination, which is also the gateway to Machu Picchu. When I arrived I was short of breath because of the change in altitude. My thoughts were confused. Although my friend Maria speaks English to me was I thought that speaks Spanish. After a bit 'of coca tea, we were fine.

Although Cuzco was long and Inca (king) or governed by a Spanish conquistador, no doubt about who rules the neighborhood in the 21 Century city life is almost entirely on the whiminternational tourists. These days almost all the buildings around the historic Plaza de Armas looks like a tourist hotel, restaurant, shop, travel agency and internet cafe 'is used.

From the heart of the once mighty Inca Empire, Cuzco, the magnetic heads the list of many travelers itinerary. Each year it attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists for its cobbled streets, attracted by the city built unique combination of colonial and religious gloss on heavy stoneFoundations of the Incas. It is located within walking distance of the city hopping the country is adorned by the biggest attraction of all, the city "lost" of the Incas, Machu Picchu and the Inca citadel perched high on an isolated hill.

The department has a long list of extravagant feasts and fairs in Cuzco nation proud pagan past clashes with the Catholic rites ceremony, colorful and modern Latin American chaos. And in no other place in Peru you can out of the relegationBreath ¬ taking altitudes of the Andes down through forest painted cloud of rare orchids, to the lush plains of the Amazon forest faster. Corpus Christi is a festival from May to June in the region of Cusco. This festival is a celebration of the saints. Fifteen saints and virgins from various districts of Cusco arrive at the cathedral, preserved in a procession in the body of Christ in the form of a host greeting in the wonderful care of 26 kg of solid gold. OvernightWake up, dishes such as chiriuchu (guinea pigs and chilli) are Chicha and cornbread served. As soon as the sun rises, the parade starts around the main square and then the images show the cathedral to greet one another. Finally, the delegations go to their churches in the middle of songs and prayers. The festival lasts a week.

For many visitors to Peru and even South America, a visit to The Lost Inca city of Machu Picchu is the sweet cherry on top of their journey.With its spectacular location, is the most famous archaeological site of the continent. This impressive ancient city was never the Spanish conquest and has proved in practice until the early part of the 20th century in oblivion. In the high season from late May to early September, the maximum limit of 2,500 people arriving every day. Despite this large number of tourists, the site can maintain its air of grandeur and mystery, and is a must for all visitors to Peru. Because of the higherElevation I was out of breath again. It took a little 'getting used to it. Once you have seen the sight that you forget everything else. Really picturesque. This is not a place not to be missed.

A vast area of tropical vegetation in the Amazon Basin, home to the largest nature reserve in Peru. Cloud Forest, which has a subtropical climate, with heavy rains: the vast Peruvian jungle, which surrounds the wide and winding Amazon, is divided into two separate areasShowers between November and March, and sunny days from April to October, and the jungle, where the dry season lasts from April to October and is ideal for tourism, with sunshine and high temperatures often topping 35 ° C.

I spent 4 days in the Amazon jungle. To get there, it was time for another level, but it was an 8-seat airplane that time. We flew into the jungle and ended up in a small space between the trees. After we landed we met our guide and paddled on the riverto our camp. We had houses with heating and part-time and electricity from the generator. We woke up early every morning to go on our walks. We were told to make sure that we had hidden our fly to well before we went to bed. I did not know that the uninvited guests to bed, so I prepared my bed in the light of day. He also told me that when I awoke in the morning, I touched the net before and carry it around for the flash and scan the area around the bed and then my shoes out of bed. Only in the case of aSnake decided to visit. At night we slept on a bridge outside to see along the river on animals at night. We had sleeping bags and "Bad" was traveling along the river, but we had to look for animals, jaguars. I stopped drinking fluids when I heard this. If you have not much to see .... too dark.

We saw many animals and it was fantastic. The jungle provides high humidity throughout the year. In the jungle of the south, there are sometimes cold spells known locally as friajes or surazos, cold fronts,Drift from the south on the continent between May and August, where temperatures can drop low at night. This season, the river levels dip and roads are easy to drive. The rainy season, meanwhile, that is from November to March, has frequent rain showers, which can damage roads in the area. I have some wonderful people in the Amazon and will never forget my experience.

Inca Kola National Soft Drink of Peru is a yellowish color and taste of chewing gum. This was my favorite bookTo drink, when I was there. Peruvians are proud of their national drinks and soft look forward to enjoy when he returns to Peru from abroad. What is that strange yellow beverage everyone is drinking? It 's the first question a Peruvian food newbie asks when confronted with Peru's ubiquitous soda: Inca Kola. It's a drink people either love or hate, but personal preferences aside, has an interesting history in the annals of the global world of carbonated soft drinks. It 'really the story oflittle cola that could. What many do not know that yellow is very sweet and light, very bright, a soda produced by only a handful of locally-Cola in the world that has never been beaten in a position to bring the world's number one soft drink is Coca- Cola. Despite years of trying to dominate the Peruvian market, Coca-Cola finally gave up and decided it had to buy a share of Inca Kola, because it could only sell better.

Inca Kola, there is only one, unlike any other. Peruvian lovetheir Inca Kola. There is a sense of pride that a soda in a small, poor country was not able to be passed by the major beverage companies in the world. fast-food restaurants like the Peruvian company Bembo by Coca-Cola Inca Kola is on, and even McDonald's, yes, I mean Inca Cola had a McDonalds, had an exclusive agreement with Coca-Cola to come, so that both beverages sold in restaurants are something unheard of in fast-food restaurants. Inca Kola was like thepersistent lover, had in the marriage between McDonald's and Coca-Cola come. In Peru, Big Macs are eaten with Inca Kola is not Coca-Cola.